Abstract
In 15 cases of frostbite among soldiers stationed between 3690 and 5540 m altitude in the Himalayas investigations of blood coagulation and immunoglobulins were carried out within 24 hours, after 4 weeks and one year. In frostbite evidences of intravascular coagulation were the presence of increased amounts of FDPs in serum, reduction of plasma fibrinogen, fall in platelet counts and haematocrit, increased platelet adhesiveness, and prolonged euglobulin lysis time. Marked lowering of antithrombin III and protease inhibitors α-1 antitrypsin and α2 macroglobulin indicate their increased consumption in the pathological process. Increased immunolglobulins with relative decrease of albumin and the appearance of cryoglobulins in the form of IgG, IgA and IgM complexes, also seem to promote platelet aggregation and release reaction. Anticoagulant therapy combined with antiplatelet adhesive drugs, if instituted in the early stages of frostbite might be successful in preventing damage resulting from intravascular coagulation.
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Chohan, I.S., Singh, I. & Balakrishnan, K. Blood coagulation and immunological changes associated with frostbite at high altitude. Int J Biometeorol 19, 144–154 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01460013
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01460013