Abstract
Cause and effect relations between Intravascular coagulation and increased vascular endothelial permeability have recently been recognized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high dose methylprednisolone on tissue edema formation and coagulation in canine legs subjected to venous occlusion. Eight mongrel dogs received 30mg/kg methylprednisolone administration intravenously. Eight additional days received normal saline as controls. Hind leg venous pressure was raised to 75mmHg continuously for 5 hours by a tourniquet around the thigh. Venous blood was sampled before tourniquet inflation, six times during tourniquet inflation, and 60 min after tourniquet ination. The sample blood was used for measurement of Sonoclot coagulation analysis, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time. At each time of venous blood sampling, circumferences of 3 points of the distal part of the hind leg were measured to assess edema. Coagulation studies indicated initial hypercoagulability, and later hypocoagulability during venous occlusion in the control group. In the methylprednisolone-treated group, coagulation parameters remained unchanged throughout the study. Percent increases in circumferences as indices of edema formation were significantly less in the methylprednisolone-treated group than in the control group. The results suggest that inhibitory action of methylprednisolone on activation of the coagulation system secondary to venous occlusion may be a key factor in maintaining the integrity of endothelial permeability, resulting in less edema formation.
