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Biomedical subjects

B M Alving

Publications and source records attributed to B M Alving.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Plasminogen activator inhibitor: a regulator of ancrod-induced fibrin deposition in rabbits.

Plasma levels of a fast-acting plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI), which neutralizes both tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase, are markedly increased in endotoxin-treated rabbits. The ability of this inhibitor to prevent the fibrinolysis that occurs after a thrombogenic stimulus was investigated in a rabbit model. Normal and endotoxin-treated male New Zealand rabbits were infused with ancrod, an enzyme that causes noncrosslinked fibrin formation in vivo. Ancrod stimulated t-PA activity by 90% in normal rabbits and caused hypofibrinogenemia but did not increase PAI levels or induce fibrin deposition in target organs. Rabbits injected with endotoxin (10 micrograms/kg) showed an increase in PAI from less than 1 to 32 U/mL 4 hours later. When ancrod was infused at this time, 90% of the rabbits developed renal fibrin thrombi. Fibrin deposition was recorded in 40% of the rabbits that received a lower dose of endotoxin (1.0 microgram/kg) and had a PAI level of 14 U/ml at the time of ancrod infusion 4 hours later. Fibrin deposition did not occur in the endotoxin-treated rabbits that received normal saline. These data suggest that high levels of PAI inhibit fibrinolysis in vivo, thereby promoting fibrin clot deposition following a thrombogenic stimulus.

Ancrod↗

The rabbit as a model for studies of fibrinolysis.

When compared to man, the rabbit shows marked prolongation of the dilute whole blood clot lysis time and an attenuated increase in plasminogen activator (PA) after the infusion of desmopressin (DDAVP). The levels of specific components of the plasma fibrinolytic system of the rabbit were compared to those in human plasma to ascertain their role in the differences between species. PA activity and plasminogen levels were similar in the two species. Anti-plasmin and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity were lower in the rabbit than in man. The rabbit PAI, apparently similar to that described in man, was not increased by DDAVP infusion. The disparity between man and rabbit with respect to the lysis times of dilute blood clots and response to DDAVP cannot be explained by differences in functional plasma levels of inhibitors or activators of the fibrinolytic system.

Animals↗

Successful renal transplantation for Epstein syndrome.

Successful cadaveric renal transplantation was accomplished in a patient with Epstein syndrome, a triad of macrothrombocytopenia, partial high-frequency hearing loss, and nephritis, which often progresses to complete renal failure. The success of the transplant demonstrates that the macrothrombocytopenia which occurs in this syndrome is not a contraindication to aggressive management of end-stage renal disease.

Adult↗

Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia in the neurosurgical patient.

Although thrombocytopenia occurs in approximately 10% of medical patients who receive heparin, this complication has not been described in neurosurgical patients. We report the clinical course of two patients who in the immediate postoperative period developed heparin-associated thrombocytopenia that resulted in significant morbidity. In these two cases, the origin of the heparin was in "flush" solutions used to maintain the patency of indwelling vascular catheters and was infused at a dose of 250 to 500 units/day. The minimal daily dose previously reported to result in thrombocytopenia is 9000 units/day administered in divided doses subcutaneously. The case reports indicate that heparin in "flush" solutions should be considered as a cause for unexpected thrombocytopenia and that platelet counts should be monitored in patients receiving heparin in any amount.

Adult↗

The dilute phospholipid APTT: a sensitive assay for verification of lupus anticoagulants.

A simple sensitive method for verification of lupus anticoagulants utilizing dilution of phospholipid in the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) system is described. Patient plasma, mixed with an equal volume of normal plasma, is activated with micronized silica. To this mixture are added different dilutions of Thrombofax and then calcium chloride. Clotting times are plotted linearly against the logarithm of the phospholipid dilutions and slopes are calculated by regression analysis. In this assay the mean negative slope of 19 plasmas that contained anti-phospholipid activity was five times greater than those of normal plasma or those obtained from patients having single or multiple coagulation factor deficiencies such as those induced by warfarin. The assay can be modified to test heparinized plasmas. Thus, it is a sensitive means by which to verify the presence of lupus anticoagulants in patients who have congenital or acquired factor deficiencies or who are receiving anticoagulant therapy.

Autoantibodies↗

Acquired dysfibrinogenemia. Paraneoplastic syndrome in renal cell carcinoma.

Acquired dysfibrinogenemia has not been previously reported as a paraneoplastic marker for malignancy. This report describes the clinical course of a patient who at the time of diagnosis of nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma had dysfibrinogenemia characterized by prolongation of the thrombin and Reptilase times and increased sialic acid content of the purified fibrinogen. The thrombin and Reptilase times returned toward normal values after nephrectomy but became abnormal with the development of nonhepatic metastases. It is concluded that acquired dysfibrinogenemia can be part of a paraneoplastic syndrome and is a sensitive plasma marker for tumor progression.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Hereditary warfarin resistance. Investigation of a rare phenomenon.

A 57-year-old black woman required a daily dosage of 50 mg of warfarin sodium to maintain her prothrombin time in a therapeutic range. The central volume of distribution and clearance of warfarin were normal for this patient. These findings, combined with the patient's requirement for plasma warfarin levels four times greater than those usually required to achieve adequate anticoagulation, indicated that the relative resistance was due to altered pharmacodynamics of warfarin. The only child of the propositus, a daughter, showed a similar relative resistance, confirming that this family is the third to be reported with hereditary resistance to warfarin.

Adult↗

Human plasma prekallikrein and high molecular weight kininogen decrease during parturition.

Prekallikrein and high molecular weight kininogen were measured in plasma taken from nine women during parturition. Prekallikrein decreased significantly (p less than 0.01) from 1.49 +/- 0.15 S-2302 U/ml (mean +/- SEM) in early labor to 1.26 +/- 0.13 S-2302 U/ml in the immediate postpartum period. Immunoreactive high molecular weight kininogen also significantly decreased from 76 +/- 5 micrograms/ml to 68 +/- 5 micrograms/ml one day postpartum (p less than 0.01). Both proteins rose to normal levels within two days. The data suggest that the kallikrein-kinin system is utilized during parturition.

Adult↗

L-asparaginase: acute effects on protein synthesis in rabbits with normal and increased fibrinogen production.

The acute effects of a single intravenous dose of L-asparaginase on protein synthesis were studied in normal rabbits and in animals that had received turpentine to stimulate fibrinogen production. Male New Zealand rabbits received L-asparaginase (500 U/kg) 16 hr before the injection of the radiolabeled amino acid [75Se]selenomethionine (75SeM). Incorporation of 75SeM into fibrinogen and serum proteins in the L-asparaginase-treated rabbits was the same as for saline-treated controls, with fibrinogen representing approximately 5% of the labeled plasma proteins. In turpentine-treated rabbits, the maximal incorporation of 75SeM into serum proteins remained unchanged, whereas 75SeM-fibrinogen increased sixfold and accounted for 25% of the labeled proteins. Animals that received L-asparaginase at the same time as turpentine or 14 hr later showed significant decreases in synthesis of both serum proteins and fibrinogen. 75SeM-fibrinogen that was purified from L-asparaginase-treated rabbits underwent normal catabolism when injected into normal recipient rabbits. These data indicate that L-asparaginase can acutely cause partial inhibition of both serum protein and fibrinogen synthesis when administered to rabbits shortly before or during a period of increased fibrinogen production. Fibrinogen that is synthesized in the presence of L-asparaginase does not have an abnormal rate of catabolism.

Animals↗

Activation of factor XII by dextran sulfate: the basis for an assay of factor XII.

A system was developed for studying the activation of factor XII (Hageman factor) in the presence of dextran sulfate (DS). Salient features of the system included low ionic strength (0.08), low concentration of factor XII (approximately 1/10,000 that in normal plasma), and an excess of exogenous prekallikrein (PK). In this system, factor XII was rapidly converted to the 80,000 molecular weight (mol wt) form of factor XIIa (alpha-factor-XIIa). Once formed, the factor XIIa converted PK to kallikrein at a rate that was proportional to the amount of factor XII originally present in the incubation mixture. This system was used to construct a simple sensitive assay for factor XII in plasma and other biologic samples. The kallikrein produced was measured spectrophotometrically with the chromogenic substrate (H-D-Pro-Phe-Arg-p-nitroanilide (S-2302). This assay was shown to be independent of the high molecular weight kininogen and the PK content of the sample being analyzed. The measurements obtained were consistent with fundamental enzymologic principles and, if desired, could be processed with a simple calculator program to achieve linear standard curves. When applied to the quantitation of factor XII in plasma, the assay yielded values in close agreement with those determined by coagulant assay or by radial immunodiffusion.

Dextran Sulfate↗

Plasma prekallikrein: quantitative determination by direct activation with Hageman factor fragment (beta-XIIa).

This report describes a plasma prekallikrein assay which, unlike methods that employ contact activation, is not affected by the factor XII or HMW kininogen content of the plasma analyzed. In this assay beta-XIIa, a potent fluid-phase activator of prekallikrein, is added to diluted plasma in the presence of 20% acetone (to inactivate kallikrein inhibitors) at 30 degrees C and the kallikrein generated is measured with the chromogenic substrate S-2302. Prekallikrein is fully activated under these conditions and the activity remains stable for at least 30 hr. The mean prekallikrein concentration in plasma samples from 24 healthy individuals was 1.50 +/- 0.35 (S.D.) S-2302 U/ml, corresponding to 20.3 +/- 4.7 micrograms/ml prekallikrein (the specific activity of highly purified human prekallikrein was determined to be 74 S-2302 U/mg). In contrast, the mean concentration in five plasma samples from patients deficient in HMW kininogen was 0.38 +/- 0.02 S-2302 U/ml. No activity was generated in prekallikrein-deficient plasma, and essentially normal levels (1.35 +/- 0.18 S-2302 U/ml) were measured in plasmas from three patients with factor XII deficiency. Plasma prekallikrein was also quantitated by radial immunodiffusion, which gave results similar to those obtained by functional assay with beta-XIIa. The determination of plasma prekallikrein by direct activation with beta-XIIa in the presence of acetone offers several advantages over the use of contact activators such as dextran sulfate. These advantages include complete inactivation of kallikrein inhibitors and total activation of prekallikrein (even in plasmas deficient in other contact factors) without simultaneous generation of plasmin.

Activation Analysis↗

Rabbit fibrin: characterization of the separated chains.

In preparation for studies of the time course of production in vivo of the constituent chains of rabbit fibrin, we characterized the structural features of the fibrin molecule. Fibrin was isolated from plasma and reduced and alkylated. The alpha, beta, and gamma chains were separated by CM-cellulose chromatography and their molecular weights and amino acid compositions were determined. The gamma chain was sequenced 36 steps with 32 positive identifications and the beta chain, 12 steps with 12 identifications. No major differences between the sequences of these chains and those of man, chicken, and dog were noted.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Preparation of beta-XIIa (Hageman factor fragment) from human plasma.

beta-Factor XIIa (beta-XIIa, Mr approximately 30,000) was isolated from human plasma by a procedure which utilized, as an initial step, the adsorption of Factor XII to celite. Activation of Factor XII and subsequent release of beta-XIIa was brought about by the proteolytic action of co-adsorbed kallikrein. Two successive chromatographic procedures were then used to achieve a final purification of 4,420-fold over plasma and an overall field of 2.3 mg of beta-XIIa per liter.

Adsorption↗

Contact-activated factors: contaminants of immunoglobulins preparations with coagulant and vasoactive properties.

The intramuscular or intravenous administration of ISG prepared from human plasma by ethanol fractionation can elicit such reactions as pain at the injection site, flushing, and even hypotension. Similar adverse reactions to plasma protein fraction, a volume expander also made by ethanol fractionation, have been associated with PKA (Hageman factor fragments) in the product. Twenty-five lots of commercial ISG were therefore analyzed for PKA and kallikrein, components of the contact activation system which could mediate such reactions through the generation of kinins in recipients. Kallikrein activity ranged from undetectable levels to > 60% of the total potential kallikrein activity in normal plasma. PKA, which was measured by its ability to catalyze the conversion of prekallikrein to kallikrein, ranged from 5% to 3950% of the activity in a reference plasma protein fraction that had caused hypotension. All but five lots increased vascular permeability in the guinea pig. The five lots which caused no increased were also the lowest in PKA and kallikrein activity. When ISG ws subjected to gel chromatography to separate the enzymic contaminants from immunoglobulin G, only the fractions containing PKA and/or kallikrein increased vascular permeability. Several lots of ISG shortened the nonactivated partial thromboplastin time of normal plasma fro 236 sec to 38 to 55 sec. During gel chromatography, coagulation activity was eluted in a position corresponding to a molecular weight of 150,000; it was inhibited by antibody to human factor XI. These data indicate that factor XIa is responsible for the coagulant activity observed and that PKA and/or kallikrein are potential mediators of vasoactive reactions to ISG.

Animals↗