[Hepatic protein synthesis of the kallikrein-kininogen-kinin system]

Plasma prekallikrein and kininogens were assayed by specific enzymatic and immunological methods in cirrhotic patients with terminal liver failure and during oestrogenic impregnation. In cirrhotic patients plasma levels of these substances were significantly lowered and they correlated negatively with necrosis enzymes. A highly significant positive correlation was found between coagulation factor values and the levels of prekallikrein and kininogens. During oestrogenic impregnation the levels of the constituents of the kallikrein-kinin system were significantly increased when compared with reference values. These findings indicate that plasma concentrations of prekallikrein and kininogens are dependent upon liver synthesis capacity.