Immature platelet dynamics are associated with clinical outcomes after major trauma

Major trauma results in dramatic changes in platelet behavior. Newly formed platelets are more reactive than older platelets, but their contributions to hemostasis and thrombosis after severe injury have not been previously evaluated.

To determine how immature platelet metrics and plasma thrombopoietin relate to clinical outcomes after major injury.

A prospective observational cohort study was performed in adult trauma patients. Platelet counts and the immature platelet fraction (IPF) were measured at admission and 24 hours, 72 hours, and 7 days after injury. Thromboelastometry was performed at admission. Plasma thrombopoietin, c-Mpl, and GPIbα were quantified in a separate cohort. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were venous thromboembolic events and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

On admission, immature platelet counts (IPCs) were significantly lower in nonsurvivors (n = 40) than in survivors (n = 236; 7.3 × 10⁹/L vs 10.6 × 10⁹/L; P = .009), but IPF did not differ. Similarly, impaired platelet function on thromboelastometry was associated with lower admission IPC (9.1 × 10⁹/L vs 11.9 × 10⁹/L; P < .001). However, at later time points, we observed significantly higher IPF and IPC in patients who developed venous thromboembolism (21.0 × 10⁹/L vs 11.1 × 10⁹/L; P = .02) and prolonged MODS (20.9 × 10⁹/L vs 11 × 10⁹/L; P = .003) than in those who did not develop complications. Plasma thrombopoietin levels at admission were significantly lower in nonsurvivors (P < .001), in patients with MODS (P < .001), and in those who developed venous thromboembolism (P = .04).

Lower levels of immature platelets in the acute phase after major injury are associated with increased mortality, whereas higher immature platelet levels at later time points may predispose to thrombosis and MODS.