Dear Ken, what do you mean with "coagulopathy"? Bleeding or thrombotic diathesis? Nevertheless, severe heat stroke may induce disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. I think you will find interesting the following article:
Huisse MG et al. Leukocyte activation: the link between inflammation and coagulation during heatstroke. A study of patients during the 2003 heat wave in Paris. Crit Care Med. 2008 Aug;36(8):2288-95. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e318180dd43.
Following are some of the environmental causes of hypercoagulation.
(1). Heat Exhaustion, heat stroke-induced hypercoagulation.
(2). High altitude hypercoagulation as a result of high altitude pulmonary hypertension and high altitude pulmonary edema is one of the environmental causes of hypercoagulability. High altitude hypercoagulation is manifested by high platelet counts, increase in Factor II, X and XII levels with compensatory increase in fibrinolysis and reduction in Factor VII. Please read the interesting article:
International Journal of Biometeorology
August 1972, Volume 16, Issue 3, pp 283-297
Abnormalities of blood coagulation at high altitude
I. Singh, I. S. Chohan
(3). Furthermore, air travel thrombosis reported in people after taking long flights may also be an example of the environmental effects at high altitudes.
(4). High air pollution
And Cold!!
It could precipitate cold agglutinins (and cold globulins)
Cold agglutinins could lead to organ thrombosis or haemolysis due to increased blood viscosity and red blood cell clumping when blood temperature drops below the thermal amplitude for haemagglutination, for example in extracorporeal cardiac surgery.
Jose, Thanks for your input. Indeed high altitude hypercoagulation may be partly due to cold, high levels of carbon dioxide and low oxygen. Other environmental effects on coagulopathy also should include carbon monoxide poisoning that can lead to intracardiac thrombi.
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