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[The state of prothrombin, plasminogen and fibrinogen in the newborn infant]
Insights
Newborn infant plasma shows comparable plasmin activity to adults, but thrombin activity varies significantly. An inhibitor is present, and fibrinogen abnormalities are linked to sample conditions and infant age.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Enzymology
- Pediatric Hematology
Context:
- Investigates the enzymatic activity of thrombin and plasmin in neonatal plasma.
- Utilizes Lineweaver-Burk kinetics for enzyme analysis.
- Compares neonatal enzyme characteristics to adult levels.
Purpose:
- To characterize the kinetics and avidity of thrombin and plasmin in newborn infants.
- To identify potential inhibitors of these enzymes in neonatal blood.
- To explore factors influencing fibrinogen behavior in newborns.
Summary:
- Plasmin activity in newborns is comparable to adults, while thrombin avidity shows significant individual variations and differs from adult levels.
- A novel inhibitor affecting both plasma and serum was detected in newborns.
- Fibrinogen abnormalities were observed, influenced by pH, osmolality, infant age, and fibrinolytic reactions, suggesting the potential presence of fetal fibrinogen.
Impact:
- Provides crucial insights into neonatal hemostasis and coagulation differences.
- Highlights the need for age-specific considerations in neonatal coagulation studies.
- Contributes to understanding the developmental biology of fibrinogen and coagulation factors.
Abstract:
The esterase activity of thrombin and plasmin on artificial substrates was used to study the kinetics of these enzymes by Lineweaver and Burk's method. In the plasma of new-born infants, plasmin obtained from streptokinase has an avidity comparable with that in adults. Thrombin is obtained by the action of staphylocoagulase and taipan venom. Its avidity has important individual variations and is different from that in adults. An inhibitor is present both in the plasma and in the serum of the new-born. Fibrinogen was studied by variations in absorption of light during coagulation by thrombin. The abnormalities observed depend on the physical and clinical conditions of the medium (ph, osmolality). These characteristics depend on the age of the infant, but also seem to depend on the conditions of the sample and, in particular, on fibrinolytic reactions. The existence of foetal fibrinogen is discussed.