Correction of Platelet Dysfunction Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Geriatric Patients

The geriatric population is subject to traumatic brain injury, often occurring as a result of falls. This patient population is also often receiving anticoagulants and platelet inhibitors increasing their risk of post-injury hemorrhage. Following Traumatic Brain Injury, even without platelet inhibitor medications, platelets become dysfunctional and are no longer able to assist with clot formation. Therefore risk of hemorrhage is increased, both in the brain, and other hemorrhagic sites. Clinical practice at Carolinas Medical Center is to transfuse platelets in patients with platelet dysfunction following brain injury. The current study is investigating the impact of transfusion on correction of platelet dysfunction and patient outcome.

Furthermore, stored platelet dysfunction can be corrected by supplementation with cytochrome c, which supports mitochondrial function. Therefore, the ability of cytochrome c to correct dysfunction in ex vivo platelets from patients with Traumatic Brain Injury will be assessed.