[Analysis of reduced human fibrin by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (author's transl)]

Incomplete fibrin formation and highly elevated Factor XIII activity in multiple myeloma

Bleeding is a common complication in patients suffering from multiple myeloma. In some cases a defect in fibrin formation has been suggested as one possible cause of haemorrhagic tendency. As shown in this investigation the defect in fibrin formation, ascertained using PAGE, is due to a lack of alpha-chain polymerization of fibrin monomers in 5/11 patients with IgG myeloma and in 2/5 patients with IgM paraproteinaemia. No disturbed fibrin polymerization could be observed in IgA myeloma (n = 6). Factor XIII concentrations of subunit A and to a lesser extent of subunit S (Laurell technique) were highly elevated in all cases with regular fibrin formation. comparable values were obtained by measuring the transamidase activity of factor XIII by incorporation of 14C-labelled purtrescin into casein. Levels up to 600% of normal could be recorded. In contrast, all patients with a lack of alpha-chain polymerization had a factor XIII activity within the normal range. Addition of factor XIII concentrate to plasma from patients with defective fibrin formation led in 5/8 cases to a partial cross-linking of alpha-monomers. we conclude that in some cases paraproteins can inhibit the factor XIII and prevent its action on fibrin.

Structure of fibrin and fibrinmonomer in renal and hepatic failure

After reduction and splitting of disulfide linkages the fibrinmonomer and fibrin of 45 patients with histologically confirmed liver cirrhosis and 38 patients with chronic renal failure (serum creatinine greater than 5 mg%) were analysed by SDS-PAA electrophoresis. Furthermore the activity of factor XIII was measured immunologically. The results indicated no polymerization of alpha-chains of fibrin while gamma-dimers were formed regularly in 71% of patients with liver cirrhosis and in 45% of patients with chronic renal failure. In liver cirrhosis and in 45% of patients with chronic renal failure. In liver cirrhosis the lack of alpha-polymerization correlated to the severity of the disease and to the decrease of factor XIII activity (no alpha-polymers formed when below 80% of normal). In renal failure this correlation was not demonstrable since in all cases the activity of factor XIII was within the normal range. After the addition of C14-labelled urea to normal plasma during clotting an incorporation of this tracer could be demonstrated by scintiscanner diamins like urea, forming in the course of renal failure, probably serve as the "wrong substrate" for the transaminidase factor XIII.

Stauffer's syndrome in renal cell carcinoma evidence for intravascular coagulation

In 40 patients with non-metastasising (n = 31) and metastasising (n = 9) renal cell carcinoma, evidence of Stauffer's syndrome (increase in alkaline serum phosphatase and prolongation of prothrombin time) was found in 18 patients. Prolongation of prothrombin time was not due to depletion of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors or manifest fibrinolysis, but due to the presence of circulating fibrinogen fibrinmonomer-FDP complexes. Ethanol gelation test was found to be positive in 28/40 subjects and soluble fibrin monomer complexes were increased in 38/40 patients. The resulting disturbance of fibrinogen-fibrin conversion was reflected by an increase in thrombin coagulase time and reptilase time. These findings suggests a state of latent compensated intravascular coagulation (presumably triggered within the vascular tumor). For diagnostic purposes the most sensitive indicator is thrombin coagulase time. Thrombin coagulase time normalised after tumor resection and was positive in patients with recurrent metastases. The increase in alkaline serum phosphatase was due to an increase in the hepatic isoenzyme. Such an increase was much more common than the elevation of total alkaline serum phosphatase. Regan's isoenzyme was only found in 1 subject. In parallel, gamma-GT was elevated in 24 patients. The study shows that Stauffer's syndrome occurs more frequently than commonly assumed when thrombin coagulase time, gamma-GT and the hepatic isoenzyme of alkaline serum phosphatase are determined in patients with renal cell carcinoma. DIC and low grade fibrinolysis may account for the coagulation abnormalities of the syndrome.

[Severe factor XIII-deficiency. Studies on subunits and turnover of the fibrin stabilizing factor (author's transl)]

An infant with congenital homozygous factor XIII deficiency demonstrated a severe retroperitoneal and intracerebral bleeding with development of a posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in the first months of life. Factor XIII activity was not measurable by means of enzymatic method and the antiserum inhibition test. Quantitative immunoelectrophoresis according to Laurell presented absence of the subunit A, whereas the concentration of subunit S was reduced to 47% the normal value. After replacement therapy factor XIII activity was estimated at 23% and corresponded to the concentration of the subunit A, concentration of subunit S increased by 20%. The turnover rate of fibrin stabilizing factor could be observed over a period of 39 days. The half life was estimated at 4,7 days. The child developed normally after continous substitution with 250 units of factor XIII concentrate every 6 weeks.

[Factor XIII deficiency in adults with acute leukemia: results of a substitution therapy with factor XIII (author's transl)]

A decrease in fibrin stabilizing factor (Factor XIII) is the most frequent coagulation disorder seen in adults with acute leukemia. Patients with prominent reduction of factor XIII (FSF) (less than 50%) were substituted with a factor XIII concentrate from human placenta, and factor XIII plasma concentration and bleeding tendency were followed up during the course of the disease. After substitution plasma, factor XIII activity went up to normal levels in most of the patients. As compared to the course of 12 patients with distinct factor XIII reduction without factor XIII therapy, there were less bleeding complications in 13 courses of patients with prominent reduction of factor XIII substituted with factor XIII concentrate and in 11 with normal or only slightly reduced factor XIII levels.

[Blood coagulation factor XIII and fibrin stabilization (author's transl)]

Coagulation factor XIII (fibrin stabilizing factor, FSF) is detectable in plasma, platelets, placenta and various tissues. In the activated form FSF has the enzymatic properties of a transglutaminase and is capable of stabilizing fibrin by inducing covalent bondings between fibrin monomers. In patients with congenital factor XIII deficiency or acquired immune inhibitors of fibrin stabilization a severe bleeding tendency is evident. There is not yet enough information available concerning the significance of reduced FSF-activity as cofactor in hemorrhagic diathesis and wound healing disturbances in various disease states. There are some indications from experimental studies that there might be an influence of FSF on tumor growth and metastasis as well as arteriosclerosis. The quantitation of the enzyme by radiological and immunological techniques yield reproducible results. Fibrin in its stabilized or non stabilized form can be discriminated in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after reduction of fibrin clots.