Quantitative venographic assessment of deep vein thrombosis in the evaluation of streptokinase and heparin therapy.

A technique of quantitative venography has been developed in which values are assigned to the deep veins of the calf, knee, thigh, and pelvis, based upon the calculated volume and degree of occlusion of these venous segments. A maximum score of 40 units reflects complete thrombosis of all segments. This technique has been applied to a randomized, single-blind study of streptokinase versus heparin treatment.

The half-life of plasmic degradation products of human fibrinogen in rabbits.

Human fibrinogen and purified plasmic degradation fragments X (stages 1 and 2), D and E were labelled with 125-I using the lactoperoxidase method. The chromatographic, electrophoretic and immunologic properties of the labelled proteins were found to be similar to those of non-labelled fragments. All the degradation products diffused rapidly (T 1/2 0.

Evaluation of a new anti-fibrinogen-coated latex particle agglutination test in the measurement of serum fibrin degradation products.

A new latex particle agglutination test (FIBROTEX) has been compared with the Thrombo-Wellcotest and the tanned red cell hemagglutination inhibition immunoassay (TRCHII) for sensitivity to purified fibrinogen and plasmic degradation products and for reactivity with 31 normal sera and 170 sera from patients with thrombotic disorders. The latex particles in the FIBROTEX are coated with antibodies against fibrinogen and fragment E (anti-FE), in contrast with the anti-fragment D and anti-fragment E antibodies which coat the latex particles of the Thrombo-Wellcotest (anti-DE). The relative sensitivities of the TRCHII and the anti-FE and anti-DE latex tests were, respectively, 0.

Plasmic degradation of fibrinogen Paris I.

Fibrin obtained from the plasma of a patient having abnormal fibrogen Paris I contains normal alpha, beta, and gamma polypeptide chains as well as an abnormal gamma-chain (gammaParis I) of approximately 51,000 daltons molecular weight. Plasmic digestion of Paris I fibrogen and noncrosslinked fibrin yields both normal and abnormal Fragment D molecules, the latter having a higher negative charge and molecular weight than that liberated from normal fibrinogen and noncorsslinked fibrin. After disulfide bond reduction, an abnormal polypeptide chain of approximately 40,500 +/- 2,000 daltons molecular weight was demonstrated in the Paris I digests by dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Comparison of the physicochemical properties of fragment D derivatives of fibrinogen and fragment D-D of cross-linked fibrin.

The molecular weight of Fragment D derivatives obtained from plasmic digests of fibrinogen and cross-linked fibrin was determined by equilibrium sedimentation and compared with the summated molecular weight of their polypeptide chains observed after electrophoresis of reduced protein in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. The measured molecular weight of Fragment D (Stage 2) of fibrinogen is 103 500, which is compatible with a molecule containing only one each of the Aalpha (13 000), Bbeta (43 000) and gamma (39 000) chain remnants. Fragment D-D of cross-linked fibrin has a molecular weight of 189 000, compatible with a molecule containing one isopeptide-bound gamma-gamma chain (80 000) and two each of Bbeta (43 000) and Aalpha (13 000) chain remnants.

The relationship of platelet coagulant activities to venous thrombosis following hip surgery.

Platelets have recently been shown to trigger intrinsic coagulation by two alternative pathways, protect active clotting factors from inactivation by plasma inhibitors and catalyse intrinsic coagulation reactions on the platelet surface to form fibrin. To determine whether these platelet coagulant activities (PCA) might have a role in the pathogenesis of DVT, 29 patients have been studied before and after arthroplasty or other surgery for fractured hip or degenerative hip disease. The occurrence of DVT was detected by [125I]fibrinogen uptake in the legs and confirmed by venography.

Determination of human fibrinopeptide A by radioimmunoassay in purified systems and in the blood.

The formation of fibrin clots or circulating soluble fibrin is accompanied by the appearance of fibrinopeptides. Measurement of the fibrinopeptide concentration in plasma can provide important information on the rate of conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin by thrombin. This rate varies under different physiologic and pathologic conditions.

Electron microscopic studies of plasmic degradation products of fibrinogen. Implications for the disulfide structure of fibrinogen.

Fibrinogen, coagulable plasmic derivatives (Fragments X) and Fragments Y, D and E were studied by negative staining electron microscopy. Fragment X obtained from Stage 1 digests and fibrinogen were both globular, while Fragment X of Stage 2 digests appeared as a nodular filament. The Stage 1 and Stage 2 Fragment X preparations had approximately the same molecular weight, but could be differentiated by several subtle differences in polypeptide chain structure.

Reaction of plasmic degradation products of fibrinogen in the radioimmunoassay of human fibrinopeptide A.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique has been devised for the measurement of human fibrinopeptide A (FPA). The system utilizes rabbit antiserum to native human FPA and a synthetic fibrinopeptide, with tyrosine substituted for phenylanine in amino acid position 8. The test detects native human FPA at a concentration of 0.