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The reversible antithrombin activity of incubated plasma
Thrombosis and Haemostasis
|February 28, 1977
Summary
Incubating normal plasma prolongs thrombin time, indicating increased antithrombin III activity. Platelets inhibit this effect, suggesting their role in regulating blood coagulation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Hematology
- Physiology
Background:
- Plasma coagulation is a complex process involving multiple factors.
- Thrombin time is a crucial measure of the extrinsic pathway of coagulation.
- Antithrombin III is a key inhibitor of thrombin and other coagulation factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenomenon of prolonged thrombin time upon plasma incubation.
- To identify the factors contributing to this change in coagulation.
- To elucidate the role of antithrombin III and platelets in this process.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of normal citrated plasma at 37°C in open glass tubes.
- Assessing thrombin time with varying incubation parameters (temperature, pH, calcium concentration).
- Investigating the effect of platelets and antithrombin III antiserum on thrombin time.
Main Results:
- Plasma incubation progressively prolonged thrombin time, dependent on incubation conditions.
- Platelet-rich plasma showed reduced augmented antithrombin activity.
- The effect was inhibited by anti-antithrombin III antiserum, implicating enhanced antithrombin III activity.
- The clot-retarding action was observed against thrombin and Arvin, but not Reptilase-R.
Conclusions:
- The prolonged thrombin time is primarily due to enhanced activity of antithrombin III.
- Platelets play an inhibitory role in this phenomenon.
- Physicochemical changes affecting fibrin monomer polymerization may also contribute.