The influence of catecholamines and prostaglandins on calcium efflux and filtrability of thermally damaged erythrocytes: an in vitro study.

Whole blood was heated in vitro and incubated with any of the following: epinephrine, norepinephrine, prostaglandin E1, prostaglandin E2 or prostaglandin F2 alpha. The treatment was assessed by whole-blood filtration and extrusion of a Ca2+ load from Ca2+ loaded red cells. Epinephrine did not affect the parameters measured. Norepinephrine increased cell filtration times and delayed Ca2+ extrusion. Prostaglandin E1 acted in an opposite manner. prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha both decreased red-cell deformability and Ca2+ extrusion above the effect of heat alone Prostaglandin E2 showed the most pronounced effect. Possible implications of the findings for microcirculation in burned patients are discussed.