The significance of changes in platelet concentration during the early phase after severe burn injury in a Chinese mass casualty

Hemostasis disorders are an important element of burn disease pathogenesis, mostly during the acute period [1]. Changes in platelet concentration are common in severe burn patients and are a signal of a severe condition and poor outcome. Because platelet concentration is an early signal of changes in condition, we should attach great importance to the fluctuation of platelet concentration during the treatment process and avoid delaying treatment. Burns are the fourth leading cause of death from unintentional injury in the USA and result in 1.4 million injuries each year. Burn injury is the most severe form of trauma, accounting for ~ 330,000 deaths per year worldwide [2]. “Mass burn casualty” events are those that cause more than 10 burn cases or severe burns in more than five cases. Mass burn casualties have the same cause of injury, similar degrees of injury degree, similar medical treatment times, and high proportions of severe injuries. Because a large number of patients are affected during mass burn casualty events, they are usually sent to several medical centers at the same time. It has been reported that the mortality rate is as high as 97.8% in patients with burns over 70% total body surface area (TBSA) [3]. Crosswise comparisons are beneficial. However, changes in platelet concentration in mass burn casualties are rarely reported. This study collected 180 burn patients’ data from China’s “8.2” Kunshan explosion and analyzed the relationship between platelet concentration and the prognosis of mass burn casualties in hopes of providing some ideas for clinical treatment.

The "8.2" Kunshan explosion was an aluminum dust explosion on August 2, 2014, at a workshop in Kunshan, China, that polished car wheel hubs. A total of 185 people were burned and were sent to 20 medical centers for treatment. The "8.2" Kunshan explosion shared several characteristics with previous burn accidents: The workers experienced an aluminum powder explosion in a closed environment; consequently, their injuries were complex and critical. Most of the patients suffered from not only large areas of severe burns but also inhalation injury caused by heat and the inhalation of hot dust. Kunshan is an economically developed city located in eastern China. It has convenient transportation and is rich in medical resources, which allowed patients to be treated in a timely manner. Health authorities attached great importance to the accident, organizing a large number of relevant medical experts from throughout the country and assembling the necessary goods to support them. All the medical experts launched a multidisciplinary, cooperative treatment effort. Under the government’s organization, labor, material resources, and financial resources were guaranteed, and all patients were well treated.

The purpose of our study was to investigate whether platelet pathology affects the prognosis of mass burn patients. If the platelet concentration reflects pathophysiological changes, it could be used as an early warning indicator. Clinicians could adjust their treatment options and determine the patients’ condition and prognosis during the early stages of injury based on platelet concentration.

Platelets are derived from the bone marrow megakaryocyte precursor, which contains loose granules and dense granules. Their average life expectancy is approximately 7 to 14 days. Thrombocytes have a variety of biological activities and functions. They are also extremely sensitive inflammatory cells that play an important role in the inflammatory response. Platelets have been preliminarily recognized as able to sense damage to vessel endothelium. Increasing recent evidence suggests that platelets have an indispensable role in regulating inflammatory responses [8–10]. The platelet concentration reflects the production and decay of thrombocytes, which decreases when peripheral blood platelets are destroyed; this decrease also stimulates compensatory hyperplasia of the bone marrow megakaryocytes to produce more platelets [11]. The platelet concentration will increase when the primary disease is under control. Because the platelet concentration can reflect the relationship between the consumption and generation of platelets in the body to some degree, it also shows early changes in conditions. Therefore, to a certain extent, platelet concentration, which can provide an early and sensitive indicator of illness severity and prognosis, also indirectly reflect the body’s ability to respond to disease.

Shock refers to a pathological process characterized by the reduction of the body’s effective circulation blood volume, tissue perfusion deficiency, cellular metabolic disorders, and functional impairment. The essence of burn-related shock is hemorrhagic shock. A major goal of the initial management of burn injuries is to replace extracellular fluid loss in proportion to the % TBSA of the burn. For large burns, intravenous (i.v.) fluid therapy is required to avoid the life-threatening consequences of hypovolemic shock; to this aim, a number of resuscitation formulae have been proposed [12]. Our study found that patients who were successfully resuscitated from shock had a higher platelet concentration level than others. Due to the lack of effective blood volume and hemoglobin, patients who suffer resuscitation failure will experience pathophysiological deterioration and instability of the internal environment. As delayed resuscitation, tissue ischemia, hypoxia reperfusion injury, and acute infection promote the activation of the coagulation system, platelet activation factor (PAF) is released, resulting in further decreases in the number of platelets.

Sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) caused by sepsis are the principal reasons for death in burn patients [13]. Several studies have shown variation in the rates, mortality, and characteristics of patients with MODS according to the type of patients, sample size, definition, and involved organs. In many burn centers, MODS is still a leading cause of death in patients with severe burns [14]. Due to the strong and persistent stress stimulation after severe burns combined with platelet adhesion and aggregation, active substances such as PAF, prostaglandin G₂ (PGG₂), prostaglandin H₂ (PGH₂), and thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂), which are released by platelets, produce complex biological effects. These active substances, which can strengthen the inflammatory response, affect the regulation of blood flow, change vasodilator levels and permeability, and alter the coagulation state, resulting in the contraction of blood vessels, the aggregation of inflammatory cells, and the release of a large number of inflammatory mediators. To a certain extent, these changes can endanger the survival of cells and lead to organ failure. As a result, the excessive production of platelets is a sign of poor prognosis. PAF was directly involved in shock, sepsis, and organ failure. Changes in peripheral platelet concentration indicate that the rapid decline in platelet concentration is related to multiple organ failure (MOF).

Sepsis refers to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) caused by infection, which is a serious complication of shock, burns, trauma, infection, and major surgery. In sepsis, abnormal platelet activation and neutrophil paralysis is well recognized. Platelet activity is characterized by the contribution to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and the enhanced inflammation response [15]. Severe burns complicated with sepsis are an important cause of MODS [16]. Most organ damage occurs during the first week post-burn; additional damage may occur within 4 weeks post-burn, but the rate of organ damage slows in the third week. The pathogenesis of sepsis is complex and has not yet been fully elucidated; however, it includes infection, inflammation, tissue damage, and dysfunctions of the immune system, blood coagulation, metabolism, neuroendocrine system, and immunologic regulating network. Thrombocytopenia is one characteristic of sepsis that increases the risk of death [17]. Research proves that thrombocytopenia is associated with sepsis, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality [18]. The present study found statistically significant differences between patients with septic shock and those with non-septic shock on day 3 and day 5, yet there were no significant differences between these patients on the day of injury. This difference suggests that platelet concentration is an early indicator of septic shock. As an indicator of diffuse intravascular coagulation, thrombocytopenia is related to inflammatory mediators [19]. Treating the primary disease and providing anti-infective therapy are more effective than simply correcting the platelet concentration. A downward trend in platelet concentration is more informative than whether the platelet concentration is within the normal range. This report shows that platelet concentration is associated with reductions in the mortality rate and that the degree of decrease in the platelet concentration is positively correlated with the severity of sepsis [20]. Consequently, observing the daily changes in platelet concentration and considering them as a sign of the progress of anti-inflammatory treatment offers important guiding significance.

The previous analysis shows that platelet concentration can provide an objective and sensitive early indicator of severe burn patients’ condition and outcome. The reasons are as follows: A platelet’s life cycle is short and very few platelets are stored in the marrow, because the platelet concentration changes during the early stages of disease, which can sensitively show the severity of a patient’s condition. Platelets play an important role in the inflammatory response; therefore, the degree of the inflammatory response is associated with the platelet concentration. Disease progression is associated with the risk of reducing the platelet concentration, and reduced platelet concentration may also lead to the exacerbation of disease. They are connected and influence each other.

Our study confirms the prognostic role of platelet concentration in pathophysiological changes. Platelet concentration is an early warning indicator for the early treatment of mass burn casualties that can dynamically reflect pathophysiological changes in body. It is also a common and repeatable clinical indicator. As platelet concentration changes occur before the appearance of clinical symptoms and can be easily determined, clinicians should pay increased attention to platelet changes to inform adjustments of therapy. Additionally, platelet concentration can be used as an early objective indicator of prognosis in the case of mass burn casualties.