Radially oriented fibrin crystallisation. A new test for endotoxin sensitivity in man

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Pathology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Heparinized blood can form unusual crystalline aggregates when exposed to bacterial endotoxins.
• These structures, termed 'asteroid bodies', were not observed in healthy individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the formation and prevalence of radially oriented acicular crystalline aggregates.
• To determine the association of these aggregates with specific patient populations and conditions.

Main Methods:

• Incubation of heparinized blood with bacterial endotoxins.
• Microscopic examination of blood samples from healthy volunteers and patients.
• Clinical data review for patients exhibiting the aggregates.

Main Results:

• Radially oriented acicular crystalline aggregates were induced by bacterial endotoxins.
• These aggregates were absent in 37 healthy volunteers.
• The structures were present in 130 patients, notably those with vasculitis, psoriasis, and bacterial infections.
• Analysis suggested these 'sunburst' structures are fibrin crystals radiating from lysed platelets.

Conclusions:

• The presence of these fibrin-platelet aggregates may serve as a biomarker for certain inflammatory and infectious diseases.
• Further research is warranted to explore the diagnostic and prognostic implications of asteroid body formation.