Summary

Background and objective: The effects of the volatile anaesthetic desflurane on platelet activation in vitro were studied and compared to those of halothane.

Methods: Platelet-rich plasma was exposed to 2 MAC of desflurane or halothane, or air only and stimulated by platelet agonists ADP (2.5, 5 and 10 μmol L−1) and collagen (10 μg mL−1). Platelet response was measured by Born aggregometry (maximum aggregation response, area under the curve) and flow cytometry (mean channel fluorescence, percentage of CD62P-positive cells, index of platelet activation for positive platelets).

Results: Aggregation response was significantly reduced in platelets exposed to desflurane or halothane; the inhibitory effect was more pronounced when the areas under the curve were analysed: values ranged from 37.5% to 73.3% of control samples for ADP stimulation and 77.1% to 79.8% for collagen stimulation. CD62P expression before and after stimulation with receptor agonists was not statistically different in platelets exposed to desflurane, halothane or air.

Conclusions: By impairing platelet aggregation while not affecting α-degranulation desflurane has a differential effect on various aspects of platelet activation similar to halothane. Our results are compatible with the hypothesis of an impairment of platelet thromboxane receptor signalling by halothane. We suggest a similar mechanism for desflurane.