Antithrombin 3. Protection against death after injection of thromboplastin.

Intravenous injection of autologous lipoprotein (thromboplastin) or thrombin produced a lethal, hemorrhagic syndrome in chicken embryos. The embryos could be protected from this fatal result by injection of antithrombin III, an alpha(2)-globulin (molecular weight 60,000 to 80,000) purified from human, bovine, and guinea pig blood. Heparin also protected the embryos, but other inhibitors were less protective.

Pleiotropic effects of antithrombin strand 1C substitution mutations.

Six different substitution mutations were identified in four different amino acid residues of antithrombin strand 1C and the polypeptide leading into strand 4B (F402S, F402C, F402L, A404T, N405K, and P407T), and are responsible for functional antithrombin deficiency in seven independently ascertained kindreds (Rosny, Torino, Maisons-Laffitte, Paris 3, La Rochelle, Budapest 5, and Oslo) affected by venous thromboembolic disease. In all seven families, variant antithrombins with heparin-binding abnormalities were detected by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, and in six of the kindreds there was a reduced antigen concentration of plasma antithrombin. Two of the variant antithrombins, Rosny and Torino, were purified by heparin-Sepharose and immunoaffinity chromatography, and shown to have greatly reduced heparin cofactor and progressive inhibitor activities in vitro. The defective interactions of these mutants with thrombin may result from proximity of s1C to the reactive site, while reduced circulating levels may be related to s1C proximity to highly conserved internal beta strands, which contain elements proposed to influence serpin turnover and intracellular degradation. In contrast, s1C is spatially distant to the positively charged surface which forms the heparin binding site of antithrombin; altered heparin binding properties of s1C variants may therefore reflect conformational linkage between the reactive site and heparin binding regions of the molecule. This work demonstrates that point mutations in and immediately adjacent to strand 1C have multiple, or pleiotropic, effects on this serpin, leading ultimately to failure of its regulatory function.

Randomized trial of low molecular weight heparin (dalteparin) in prevention of left ventricular thrombus formation and arterial embolism after acute anterior myocardial infarction: the Fragmin in Acute Myocardial Infarction (FRAMI) Study.

OBJECTIVES: The present trial investigated the efficacy and safety of dalteparin in the prevention of arterial thromboembolism after an acute anterior myocardial infarction (MI). BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) thrombus formation is associated with increased risk of arterial embolism in patients with an acute MI. Thrombolytic and antiplatelet therapy do not prevent thrombus formation. METHODS: A total of 776 patients were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of subcutaneous dalteparin (150 IU/kg body weight every 12 h during the hospital period). Thrombolytic therapy and aspirin were administered in 91.5% and 97.6% of patients, respectively. The primary study end point was the composite of thrombus formation diagnosed by echocardiography and arterial embolism on day 9 +/- 2. RESULTS: Of 517 patients with echocardiographic recordings available for end point analysis, thrombus formation or embolism, or both, was found in 59 (21.9%) of 270 patients (59 with thrombus, none with embolism) in the placebo group and 35 (14.2%) of 247 patients (34 with thrombus, 1 with embolism) in the dalteparin group (p = 0.03). The risk reduction of thrombus formation associated with dalteparin treatment was 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.92, p = 0.02). Analyses of all randomized patients (388 in each group) revealed no significant difference between the placebo and dalteparin groups with respect to arterial embolism (6 vs. 5 patients), reinfarction (8 vs. 6 patients) and mortality rates (23 vs. 23 patients, p = NS for all). Dalteparin was associated with an increased risk of hemorrhage: major in 11 dalteparin group patients (2.9%) verus 1 placebo group patient (0.3%, p = 0.006); minor in 52 dalteparin group patients (14.8%) versus 8 placebo group patients (1.8%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Dalteparin treatment significantly reduces LV thrombus formation in acute anterior MI but is associated with increased hemorrhagic risk.

Distribution of myocardial blood flow and capillary diffusion capacity across the canine heart wall.

Myocardial capillary permeability was determined in 20 dogs by applying a new method which resembles the tissue-uptake technique. The method consisted of a bolus injection of 51Cr-EDTA into the left atrium, determination of the average arterial tracer concentration and subsequent assay of myocardial tissue activity 10, 20 and 30 s after injection. Under the fundamental assumption of no back-diffusion of tracer to capillary blood, uptake of 51Cr-EDTA into myocardium allowed calculation of the transfer constant, Kin, independent of blood flow. Regional plasma flow, fpl, was simultaneously determined from tissue content and average arterial concentration of radioactive microspheres and haematocrit. From estimates of Kin and fpl the fractional extraction, E, of 51Cr-EDTA was calculated as E = Kin/fpl. The capillary permeability-surface area product, PS, was calculated as PS = -fpl X k X 1n (1 - E). Constant fractional extraction of 51Cr-EDTA indicates that the method can be employed 10 to 20 s after injection without risk of back-diffusion. From tissue samples taken from subendocardial and subepicardial layers of the left and right ventricular walls and from left and right side parts of the septal region we measured similar PS values. Letting capillary surface area, S, equal 500 cm2 X -1 the permeability coefficient for 51Cr-EDTA was 1.39 X 10(-5) cm X s-1.

Renal tubular function in patients treated with high-dose cisplatin.

The effect of three cycles of high-dose cisplatin (40 mg/m2 day for 5 days) on renal tubular function was evaluated in 30 patients. A significant impairment of proximal tubular salt and water reabsorption rates was observed, but also distal tubular function seemed to be affected. These changes were also present 6 months after termination of treatment. Sodium and magnesium clearance increased significantly during treatment. Magnesium clearance normalized shortly after treatment but sodium clearance was significantly elevated 6 months after treatment. Proteinuria, albuminuria, and amino aciduria, together with an increase of beta 2-microglobulin and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) excretion rates, were observed during each treatment cycle. A good correlation was registered between the increase in urinary excretion rates of protein, NAG, and magnesium and the decrease in proximal tubular salt and water reabsorption during cisplatin administration.

On the value of the activated partial thrombo-plastin time (aptt) in monitoring heparin therapy.

Of 1068 blood samples referred for evaluation of the haemostatic mechanism 135 contained heparin as judged by the polybrene titration method. Of the 57 samples with a heparin concentration in the defined therapeutic range, 65 per cent had APTT values in the "therapeutic range". Of the samples from patients who had not received any anticoagulant, 213 (24 per cent) had prolonged APTT, and 48 of these samples had APTT values in the "therapeutic range" for heparin therapy. It is suggested that the APTT test is of limited value in monitoring heparin therapy.

Increased plasma thrombomodulin in cancer patients.

Plasma samples from 35 patients with colorectal cancer, 16 patients with pancreatic cancer and 46 patients with various cancers in the terminal stage were analysed for soluble plasma thrombomodulin with an ELISA method. At time of diagnosis and before primary treatment, the patients with colorectal cancer had normal plasma TM levels. In the patients who developed disseminated disease, the mean plasma TM level increased significantly. In the patients with pancreatic cancer, the mean plasma TM level was increased already at time of primary treatment. The TM level increased further with progress of the pancreatic cancer. In the patients with various cancer types in the terminal stage, the mean TM was also significantly increased compared to healthy controls. Great individual variation in the plasma TM level was observed, as well as great variation of mean TM level between the various cancer types. There was no significant correlation between the TM levels and the levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor, another endothelial coagulation inhibitor, which increased with progress of malignant disease. This may indicate different underlying mechanisms for the increased plasma levels.

Antithrombin Oslo: type Ib classification of the first reported antithrombin-deficient family, with a review of hereditary antithrombin variants.

Patients with classical antithrombin deficiency (Type I) from seven unrelated kindreds were studied by crossed immunoelectrophoresis of plasma in the presence and absence of heparin. The only abnormal pattern was found in the kindred first reported by Egeberg in 1965. An abnormal cathodal peak of antithrombin antigen was found in the presence, but not the absence, of heparin in the first dimension gel. We have named this variant antithrombin Oslo. Such evidence of an abnormal protein, despite equivalent low levels of antithrombin antigen and activity, has been denoted previously by Sas as Type Ib deficiency. In the context of this new report, we review the literature to date on 33 other variants of the Types Ib, II and III subclassifications with a discussion of the value of the classification scheme.

Predictive value of coagulation markers concerning clinical outcome 90 days after anterior myocardial infarction.

To study the predictive value of coagulation markers concerning clinical outcome, prothrombin fragment F1.2 (F1.2), fibrin monomer antigen (FM), D-Dimer (DD), and fibrinogen were measured in plasma samples drawn 2 and 7 days after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 314 consecutive patients randomized in a clinical trial of low molecular weight heparin (Dalteparin) (the FRAMI trial). Placebo-treated patients suffering death or new AMI within 90 days had significantly higher levels at day 2 of FM (Enzymun-Test FM), and DD (TINAquant D-dimer) (p = 0.001 and 0.02, respectively), but not F1.2 (Enzygnost F1.2 micro), relative to those without serious clinical events. At day 7 all three coagulation activation markers were significantly higher in patients with subsequent adverse clinical outcome. The Dalteparin group had significantly lower levels of these markers as compared to the placebo group. Left ventricular (LV) thrombus formation was not associated with changes in coagulation activation. However, patients with thrombus had significantly higher fibrinogen levels than those without thrombus (p = 0.004 day 2), independent of treatment group. Thus, markers of coagulation activation may be useful in stratification of patients when estimating risk for adverse clinical outcome after AMI. Furthermore, elevated fibrinogen levels are associated with increased risk of LV thrombus formation.

Heparin assays and bleeding complications in treatment of deep venous thrombosis with particular reference to retroperitoneal bleeding.

Bleeding complications occurred in 30 (11%) out of 280 patients who received continuous heparin infusion for deep venous thrombosis (DVT). 22 (8%) had minor while 8 patients (3%) had major bleeding complications (1 intrathoracic [fatal], 2 gastrointestinal and 5 retroperitoneal). Heparin activity, in daily drawn blood samples, was determined by four assays (chromogenic substrate [CS] assay, activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT], thrombin time with citrated plasma [CiTT] and thrombin time with recalcified plasma [CaTT]). The differences in median heparin activity between patients with minor bleeding and patients with no bleeding did not reach significance for any of the tests. In patients with major bleeding, the differences were significant with the CS (p = .011) and the CaTT (p = .030) assays. Patients with retroperitoneal bleeding had significantly increased median activity judged by all four assays: CS (p = .002), CaTT (p = .003), APTT (p = .010), CiTT (p = .029). The difference was most pronounced after four days of heparin treatment, but there was a considerable overlap with patients without bleeding.

Isolation and characterization of heparin from human mastocytoma tissue.

Polysaccharide was isolated from human spleen mastocytoma by proteolytic digestion, precipitation with cetylpyridinium chloride, digestion with chondroitinase ABC, and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The final product (0.7 mg per g of starting material, MW 8000) behaved like standard heparin on ion-exchange chromatography and on electrophoresis, and contained D-glucuronic acid, L-iduronic acid, D-glucosamine and sulfate in the proportions expected for heparin. Affinity chromatography on antithrombin-Sepharose separated a distinct high-affinity fraction (4-5% of the total material). Structural analysis of this fraction showed that about 10% of the D-glucosamine residues were N-acetylated, the remainder N-sulfated. The anticoagulant activity of the isolated heparin was 71 B.P. units per mg (whole-blood system), or 30 units per mg (anti-thrombin and chromogenic substrate). 205 and 10-15 units per mg (chromogenic assay) were found for high and low affinity fractions, respectively. These results demonstrate conclusively the occurrence of heparin in a human tissue.

The effect of antithrombin III on the activity of the coagulation factors VII, IX and X.

Antithrombin III, purified to homogeneity according to polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis, inhibited the activity of purified factor IXa and Xa, whereas factor VII was not inhibited either in the active or in the native form. Antithrombin III is the single most important inhibitor of factor Xa in plasma. Factor Xa does not, however, reduce the activity of antithrombin III against thrombin.

Inhibition of activated coagulation factor VII by normal human plasma.

An amidolytic assay system with tissue thromboplastin (Tpl), purified coagulation factors VII and X, and the chromogenic substrate S-2222 was developed. Antithrombin III (AT) accounts for about one third of the total inhibition exerted by normal plasma in this test system. This effect of AT was prevented by adding purified AT blocking antibodies. Normal plasma and serum showed approximately similar inhibitory effects. The inhibition was probably directed against activated factor VII (F VIIa). Gel filtration of adsorbed normal plasma on Ultrogel AcA 34 showed three inhibitory peaks which were different from AT.

Extrinsic pathway inhibitor in elective surgery: a comparison with other coagulation inhibitors.

Extrinsic coagulation pathway inhibitor may be an important regulator of haemostasis to prevent thrombosis after tissue damage. The functional activity of this inhibitor was determined using a chromogenic substrate assay, and compared to the activities of antithrombin, heparin cofactor II and protein C during the perioperative period of elective hip replacement (n = 28), cholecystectomy (n = 11), and vascular surgery (n = 5). Peroperatively, all the inhibitors decreased rather similarly and to the same degree as the decrease in albumin concentration. The decreases during hip surgery were about 2-fold the decreases observed during cholecystectomy. A significant peroperative increase in extrinsic pathway inhibitor activity was observed in vascular surgery, probably due to a bolus injection of heparin. Antithrombin, heparin cofactor II and protein C levels normalized on days 3-5 postoperatively in all three patient groups. Sustained low levels of extrinsic pathway inhibitor were observed on postoperative days 1 to 7 in hip surgery patients. Apparently, extrinsic pathway inhibitor is not an acute phase reactant. In uncomplicated surgery, the decreases of the coagulation inhibitor levels are mainly due to hemodilution.

Effect of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in the HEPTEST assay and in an amidolytic anti factor Xa assay for LMW heparin.

Both the HEPTEST and amidolytic anti factor Xa assays are currently being used for heparin activity detection in plasma from patients receiving standard heparin or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). In this study we have investigated the influence of recombinant and endogenous Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI) on these assays. The HEPTEST determinations were performed on an ACL 300 R Clottimer using the APTT program which resulted in a longer incubation time with factor Xa than recommended by the manufacturer. rTFPI added to plasma prolonged the HEPTEST clotting time markedly, but had only a little effect in the amidolytic assay. Antibodies against TFPI (anti-TFPI) abolished these effects. The effect of adding rTFPI and Logiparin was additive. When anti-TFPI IgG was added to samples of normal plasma, a statistically significant shortening of the HEPTEST clotting time was seen. When anti-TFPI was added to plasma samples from volunteers who had received Logiparin by subcutaneous or intravenous injection, then the HEPTEST clotting time was shortened considerably. For some samples the clotting time was halved. These experiments show that the HEPTEST clotting time is prolonged not only by heparin-antithrombin III, but also by TFPI released by heparin injection.

Low-molecular weight heparin reduces the generation and activity of thrombin in unstable coronary artery disease.

Unstable coronary artery disease (UCAD) is associated with an increased risk of further coronary events. In the FRISC study, the risk was decreased during treatment with a high, twice-daily, dose of dalteparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin. However, lowering the dose resulted in raised risk of recurrences. To investigate the underlying pathophysiology, the thrombin generation and activity in patients with UCAD randomized to a 6-week placebo-controlled treatment with dalteparin were evaluated. Plasma prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) (n = 342), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) (n = 186) and soluble fibrin (SF) (n = 298) were analyzed before and during treatment with dalteparin/placebo administered subcutaneously, 120 IU/kg bw twice daily for 5-8 days and 7.500 IU once daily the following 35-40 days. High-dose treatment with dalteparin resulted in significantly reduced levels of all coagulation markers, demonstrating diminished thrombin generation and activity. When reducing the dalteparin dose, plasma TAT and SF remained low, indicating minimal fibrin formation. However, F1+2 increased during this period. though the level at day 45 was still lower than in the placebo group. In the placebo group elevated thrombin generation and activity persisted during the entire period. In conclusion, high-dose treatment with dalteparin twice daily resulted in significantly reduced thrombin generation and activity. However, after changing to a lower, once-daily dose, the treatment was not sufficient in preventing a return to a procoagulable state. These changes of the coagulation activity might explain the changes in event rate observed during dalteparin treatment.

Antithrombin antigen of high molecular weight associated with neoantigen in hemophilic plasma after factor IX concentrate therapy.

These studies were performed to investigate the cause(s) of the cathodal shift of mobility seen in crossed immunoelectrophoresis of antithrombin antigen in plasma of hemophilic patients after factor IX concentrate therapy. These plasmas were shown to contain antithrombin neoantigen with apparent identity to the neoantigen present in normal serum but not present in normal plasma. Sephacryl S-200 gel chromatography of serum demonstrated that the neoantigen eluted with the first two, early eluting protein peaks; thus the neoantigen had a higher molecular weight than native antithrombin. When the chromatographic fractions containing the neoantigen were studied by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, they were found to contain antithrombin antigen of more cathodal mobility than normal. Sephacryl S-200 chromatography of factor IX concentrate-treated hemophilic plasma also showed an early eluting peak of antithrombin antigen of more cathodal mobility than normal in crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The mobility of this peak was identical to the cathodal peak found in normal serum and in early eluting fractions from chromatography of normal serum. These results support the conclusion that factor IX concentrate-treated hemophilic plasma contained a non-functional, high molecular weight form of antithrombin, associated with the presence of neoantigen, which may represent complexed and/or modified antithrombin produced by the action of the concentrates in vivo.

Assay of dermatan sulfate cofactor (heparin cofactor II) activity in human plasma.

An assay measuring the thrombin inactivating effect of human plasma in the presence of dermatan sulfate (DS) is described. Test plasma, diluted 1/50, is incubated with human thrombin in the presence of DS. Remaining thrombin is determined with chromogenic substrate 2AcOH . H-D-CHG-Ala-Arg-pNA. Three dilutions of reference plasma suffice and the standard curve is linear. Antithrombin III (AT) exerts a small (3-8%) effect in the assay. When test plasma contains heparin above 0.05 U/ml, this unspecific effect of AT increases, but it may be abolished by antibodies against AT. In a normal material (n = 50), the SD of DS cofactor activity was greater (15%) than that of AT (8.7%). DS cofactor was normal in hereditary AT deficiency and in 15 patients with deep venous thrombosis. In liver cirrhosis and in DIC, both inhibitors were markedly depressed, to similar degrees (r = 0.84).

Assay of unfractionated and LMW heparin with chromogenic substrates: twin methods with factor Xa and thrombin.

Utilizing two newly synthesized chromogenic substrates (CS), two different assay methods for heparin in plasma have been developed. The assay with bovine factor Xa and the highly reactive "Substrate FXa-1" (CH3 OCO-D-CHA-Gly-Arg-pNA X AcOH) measures both unfractionated (UF) heparin and low molecular weight (LMW) heparin within a single standard curve in the 0.05-1.5 U/ml plasma range. The very similar (and less expensive) assay with bovine thrombin and "Substrate Th-1" (2AcOH X H-D-CHG-Ala-Arg-pNA), measures UF heparin, but not LMW heparin. The standard curves are highly reproducible (CV 3.5-4.7%). For clinical work, a linear standard curve is obtained with three standards and lin-log plot. The "within run" SD was 0.007-0.026 U/ml. Mean recovery of 0.5 U/ml heparin added to 10 pathological plasma samples ranged 0.46-0.53 U/ml (SD 0.034-0.040). Activities of three UF heparin and three LMW heparin preparations are reported.

The anticoagulant effect in heparinized blood and plasma resulting from interactions with extrinsic pathway inhibitor.

The influence of Extrinsic pathway inhibitor (EPI) on global clotting times of plasma was studied using activity-blocking IgG antibodies. Dilute tissue thromboplastin (TP) clotting times in plasma collected after intravenous injection of heparin were dramatically shortened by the addition of anti-EPI IgG. Anti-EPI IgG shortened the TP times to a lesser degree in plasma heparinized in vitro. Compared to plasma heparinized in vitro, the TP clotting times were markedly prolonged in post-heparin plasma of equal heparin concentration. Addition of anti-antithrombin IgG reduced the clotting times somewhat more than did anti-EPI IgG, particularly in normal plasma. In plasma from patients with cancer, about equal effect was obtained by blocking either EPI or antithrombin. These clotting time studies suggested that much of the anticoagulant effect caused by injection of heparin depended on EPI. This was confirmed by recording the release of fibrinopeptide A (FPA), as marker of thrombin generation, following addition of TP and CaCl2 to citrated blood. Thrombin generation was delayed and markedly reduced in post-heparin blood compared to that in normal blood. After incubating post-heparin citrated blood with anti-EPI IgG, the generation of FPA was more rapid; the amounts released 30 seconds after addition of TP were 6 times greater (36 vs 6 ng/ml) than in post-heparin blood without anti-EPI IgG. The subsequent FPA values were midway between pre-injection and post-heparin values. In conclusion, between one third and one half of the inhibition of TP-initiated coagulation in post-heparin plasma depends on EPI. This inhibition is mainly due to inactivation of the factor VIIa-TP complex. A small, but distinct contributing effect observed in the APTT assay (and hence no TP) indicates that even increased inactivation of activated factor X contributes. In cancer patients, these EPI-heparin interactions contribute even more to the anticoagulant effects of heparin.