Figure 2.

Effects of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 and HES 200/0.5 on platelet activation markers and formation of platelet-leukocyte conjugates. After haemodilution of 10% (white) or 40% (grey) with either HES solution or saline (Con), platelets were activated by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (5 μM) or thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP) (25 μM) for 5 minutes or remained inactivated (Basal). CD62P expression (a) and fibrinogen binding to platelets (b) as well as platelet-neutrophil (P-N) (c) and platelet-monocyte (P-M) (d) conjugates were determined by flow cytometry. The results are expressed as the relative numbers of platelets or leukocytes that were positive for CD62P or fibrinogen or the platelet-specific antigen CD42a. Data are given as mean ± standard error of the mean obtained from eight identical experiments. Significant differences between saline and HES 130/0.4 or HES 200/0.5: *P < 0.05, ** P < 0.005, *** P < 0.001. Significant differences between HES 130/0.4 and HES 200/0.5: ^§P < 0.05, ^§§P < 0.01.