Inhibition of the cold activation of Factor VII and the prothrombin time

Normal whole blood, collected and stored in borosilicate or commercial siliconized borosilicate tubes at 4 degrees C, undergoes a time-dependent activation of Factor VII and a shortening of the prothrombin time (PT). Addition of inhibitors to Factor XII fragments (corn Hageman factor inhibitor, CHFI) or to activated Factor XII (Cytochrome-C) inhibited in a concentration-dependent way the cold-promoted activation of Factor VII and the shortening of the PT. When celite was added to whole blood in polypropylene tubes at 4 degrees C, Factor VII was activated and the PT shortened. Preincubation of celite with CHFI or Cytochrome-C prevented the activation of Factor XII and the subsequent activation of Factor VII and the PT. These studies demonstrate the importance of Factor XII in the cold activation of Factor VII and shortening of the PT and indicate that inhibitors to activated Factor XII or XII fragments are useful in inhibiting in vitro shortening of the PT. These findings suggest that the development of a collection tube that prevents contact activation also would inhibit adequately the cold-promoted activation of the PT and Factor VII.