Plasma prekallikrein activity in patients with total hip arthroplasty

The behaviour of the contact system was studied in 40 patients with total hip arthroplasty, by measuring plasma prekallikrein, spontaneous kallikrein activity and factor XII. In the literature it had been shown that patients with complications from this operation had decreased prekallikrein and increased kallikrein activity (M. Nakahara. Acta orthop scand 1982; 53:591-6). In the present study, comprising patients with and without pain and proven loosening of the hip prosthesis, these findings could only partially be confirmed. Patients with a loosened prosthesis had significantly lower prekallikrein (mean 0.78 +/- 0.28 U/ml; p less than 0.01) than patients without problems, but no detectable kallikrein activity in plasma. Patients with pain but no loosening had normal prekallikrein (1.04 +/- 0.26 U/ml) and also no demonstrable kallikrein activity. Factor XII was normal in all patient groups. It is concluded that decreased prekallikrein is limited to patients with a loosened hip prosthesis, with or without pain.