Abstract
Summary
The efficiency of fresh vs. lyophilized platelet transfusions to control radiation induced hemorrhage were tested in rats by gross observation for bleeding, platelet count, hematocrit, microscopical study of lymph node sections, and susceptibility to bleeding from minor trauma. Hemorrhage occurs in irradiated, untreated rats around the fifth post irradiation day increasing with the progress of platelet fall, which reach a minimum around the tenth day. Fresh and lyophilized platelet transfusions were performed on 5th, 7th and 9th day. Whereas fresh platelet transfusions raised the platelet count to 2–3 times the normal and stopped hemorrhage, lyophilized material had no effect on platelet counts which were not different from irradiated controls and did not show any influence on the bleeding tendency. In the lyophilized platelet transfused rats, the hematocrit dropped more than in the irradiated controls.
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