[Activated coagulation factors in various thrombotic diseases]

Various hemostatic abnormalities have been reported and excess activation of coagulation factors, such as prothrombin, factor VII, factor IX, and factor XI, have been detected in thrombotic diseases states by various assay systems. We recently developed the enzyme-linked differential immunoassay for activated factor XI-alpha 1 antitrypsin complex (FXIa-alpha 1 AT) and applied it with other assays for activated factors such as thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) to detect the hypercoagulable state in clinical samples. In patients with DIC, the FXIa-alpha 1 AT level in plasma increased before onset of DIC. In patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, FXIa-alpha 1AT and TAT levels were increased in the patient plasma. FXIa-alpha 1AT was related to the severity of urinary albumin excretion, whereas TAT was not. Plasma FXIa-alpha 1AT levels were significantly increased in patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease, and showed a positive correlation with TAT, fibrinogen, and Lp(a). Evaluation of activated coagulation factor provides useful information on the diagnosis of thrombotic disease.