Thromboxane (TXA2) and
prostacyclin (PGI2) levels, circulatory platelet aggregate ratios (
CPAR), CPK, LDH, GOT, platelet counts, blood viscosity,
cortisol and urine
epinephrine contents were determined in 42 burned patients who were divided into two groups: Group I control (n = 34) and Group II (n = 8) treated with TXA2 synthesis inhibitor,
anisodamine. It was found that in controls, both TXA2 and the TXA2/PGI2 ratio increased significantly. There was no marked difference in PGI2 levels between the two groups. Platelet counts and
CPAR decreased, while blood viscosity, CPK, LDH, GOT,
cortisol and
epinephrine in the controls were all significantly higher than those found in Group II patients. All these findings suggested that the changes of TXA2 and the TXA2/PGI2 ratios played an important role in the haemodynamics and haemorrheology in
burn shock. The TXA2 synthesis inhibitor,
anisodamine, showed beneficial effects by restoring the haemodynamic and rheological disturbances towards normal by virtue of their ability to induce vascular constriction, platelet aggregation, cellular destruction, destabilization of membranes and release of chemical mediators (including
enzymes). Furthermore, at 1-3 days postburn, the levels of CPK, LDH and GOT in controls were higher than those measured at 12 h postburn, but this phenomenon was not marked in the treated group, suggesting that after
resuscitation,
reperfusion damage had occurred and TXA2 might be responsible for the damage. It is assumed that
anisodamine could protect tissues from
reperfusion damage. The findings also suggested that
anisodamine could quicken the restoration of neuroendocrine disturbance initiated by
shock (stress).