This study is the first to demonstrate that microparticles generated in vivo can stimulate coagulation.

Cardiac surgery with CPB causes a biphasic complement activation. The first phase occurs during CPB and results from the interaction of blood with the extracorporeal circuit. The second phase, which occurs during the first 5 days after surgery, involves CRP, is related to baseline CRP levels, and is associated with clinical symptoms such as arrhythmia.

We demonstrated that the VWF defect reflects the balance between degradation induced by the shear stress and the endothelial release of new VWF triggered by the pulsatility. This modulation of VWF levels could explain the relationship between pulsatility and bleeding observed in CF-MCS recipients. Preservation of pulsatility may be a new target to improve clinical outcomes of patients.

No abstract