[The causes of abnormal coagulation system in the early phase of burns]

The relationship between abnormality in blood coagulation and Burn Index (B.I.) were examined in 174 patients treated in our department for trauma during past 7 years. Platelet counts decreased rapidly and became minimal at 3rd or 4th hospital day, but PT, APTT, fibrinogen and FDP were abnormal in many cases over 30% BSA only within 24 hours after thermal injury. The platelet counts at 3rd hospital day and PT within 24 hours were well correlated with Burn Index (platelet vs. B.I. r = 0.665, p less than 0.01; PT vs. B.I., r = 0.587, p less than 0.01). And PT was also well correlated with plasma total protein (r = 0.686, p less than 0.01). AT-III, plasminogen and alpha 2 PI had also a tendency of interrelation to plasma protein level. These data suggest that systemic intravascular coagulation does not commonly complicate immediately after thermal injury, although consumption of coagulation factors are mainly occurred at the site of burn and correlated with the loss of plasma protein.