New approaches for the detection of early activation products in thrombotic states

The occurrence of a consumption coagulopathy as well as prethrombotic and thrombotic states are connected with the formation of thrombin. The proteinase acts upon physiological substrates leading to activation products, e.g. fibrinopeptides, platelet factors or thrombin-antithrombin III-complex. For the determination of such products we have developed immunochemical assays, which detect parameters of a direct or indirect action of thrombin in a specific and sensitive manner: 1. ELISA for determination of platelet factor 4; 2. Latex-test for determination of D-Dimer; 3. ELISA for determination of thrombin-antithrombin III complex. Preliminary results from clinical investigations indicate that the determination of these parameters can be valuable for the diagnosis of activation processes of the clotting system.