Platelet and White Cell Reactivity to Top-Load Intravenous Perfluorocarbon Infusion in Healthy Sheep

Perfluorocarbon emulsions (PFCs) are intravenous artificial oxygen carriers with enhanced gas solubility. As lipid micelle nanoparticle emulsions, PFCs may have a class effect that causes degrees of thrombocytopenia. Understanding the extent of the platelet effects, including mechanism and potential inflammation after PFC infusion, is important for safe human trials. Normal sheep (Dorper) were infused with 5 mL/kg of Oxygent (w/v 60% PFC) or Perftoran (w/v 20% PFC). Controls received 6% Hetastarch or were naive. Blood samples were analyzed from baseline, time 0 (the end of infusion), 3 and 24 hours, and 4 and 7 days. Platelet count, plateletcrit, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, and CD-62p (a platelet activation-dependent membrane protein) were measured. Neutrophils, monocytes, and total white blood cell counts were analyzed. In these inflammatory cell lines, there were no consistent changes or cellular activation after PFC infusion. A decrease (