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Biomedical subjects

C R Prentice

Publications and source records attributed to C R Prentice.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The relationship between plasma vasopressin and changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis during hip surgery.

To investigate whether vasopressin (aVP) could have a role in the regulation of coagulation and fibrinolysis during hip surgery, venous blood samples were taken for assay of FVIII:C, FVIII R:Co, vWF:Ag, fibrinopeptide A (FPA), euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT), high molecular weight fibrin breakdown products (XL-FDP) platelet aggregation in whole blood and aVP from seven patients undergoing elective hip surgery. Samples were taken at set points over the operative period. FVIII:C increased during the operation from a geometric mean of 0.7 iU/ml pre-operatively to 1.09 iU/ml (p less than 0.05) post-operatively. vWF:Ag and FVIII R:Co rose in a similar manner. PAA (10(6)/ECLT2) rose from 12 units pre-operatively to 167 units (p less than 0.001) at prosthesis cementing, and post-operatively fell to subnormal levels. FPA increased from 13 pmol/ml to 58 pmol/ml (p less than 0.05) at prosthesis cementing, and fell to 9 pmol/ml post-operatively. Plasma XL-FDP rose from 115 ng/ml pre-operatively to 456 ng/ml at skin closure (p less than 0.05). Plasma aVP rose from 0.5 pg/ml pre-operatively to 40 pg/ml (p less than 0.01) at division of the femoral neck. There were no changes in platelet aggregation using 1.5 microM ADP. The results demonstrate activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis during the operative procedure. The mechanisms involved in these changes are complex, but the results support the hypothesis that aVP has effects on factor VIII and fibrinolysis similar to those described for abdominal surgery.

Arginine Vasopressin

Effect of controlled hyperglycaemia on factor VIII concentrations in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Patients with diabetes mellitus have higher levels of coagulation factor VIII than the non-diabetic population. This may be a result of poor metabolic control and could contribute to the development of microvascular complications. During ketoacidosis there are acute changes in plasma concentrations of coagulation factors, some of which may be mediated by the rise in vasopressin that occurs. We have investigated the effects of hyperglycaemia without ketosis on some aspects of haemostasis by manipulating blood glucose concentrations using a Biostator. After a 1h run-in period with the blood glucose at 5 mmol/l, the blood glucose was maintained at 5, 15 and 25 mmol/l and maintained for one hour at each level in six male patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Insulin was infused at 0.25 mu/kg/min. Venous blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of each hour after the run-in period for assays of factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), ristocetin co-factor (FVIIIR:Co), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and vasopressin (aVP). There was a slight, though statistically insignificant fall in median factor VIII:C concentration at each incremental level of increase in blood glucose. Values (at the beginning and end of each hour) were: 1.0 and 1.1 iu/ml at 5 mmol/l; 0.95 and 0.79 iu/ml at 15 mmol/l; and 0.74 and 0.84 iu/ml at 25 mmol. vWF:Ag and FVIIIR:Co were unchanged. Plasma aVP fell slightly from 1.1 to 0.5 pg/ml. The results indicate that high levels of FVIII seen in diabetes are not due to short-term increases in blood glucose and that acute hyperglycaemia does not promote pro-coagulant changes in blood.

Adolescent

Acute changes in blood glucose concentration do not promote thrombin generation or fibrin breakdown in type 1 diabetes.

To investigate the effect of blood glucose concentration on thrombin generation and fibrinolytic activity, six Type 1 patients had the blood glucose concentration maintained for 1 h at 5, 15, and 25 mmol l-1, and 8 patients underwent hypoglycaemia of 20 min duration after the blood glucose had been kept at 8 mmol l-1 for 1 h. During hyperglycaemia plasminogen activator activity rose from 214 (11-625) (median, range) to 478 (18-772) units (p less than 0.05) at a blood glucose of 5 mmol l-1 and to 511 (89-816) (p less than 0.05) and 535 (33-976) (p less than 0.05) units at a blood glucose of 15 and 25 mmol l-1, respectively. Cross-linked fibrin degradation products (FDP) were 45 and 53 micrograms l-1 at a blood glucose of 5 mmol l-1 and remained unchanged at higher glucose levels. Fibrinopeptide A was 1.3 (0.6-2.8) nmol l-1 at a blood glucose of 5 mmol l-1, and remained unchanged with hyperglycaemia, being 1.3 (0.9-1.3) nmol l-1 after 1h at 25 mmol l-1. During hypoglycaemia, plasminogen activator activity rose from 155 to 745 units (p less than 0.05) while both fibrinopeptide A and cross-linked FDP remained unchanged. The results indicate that acute fluctuations in blood glucose concentration do not lead to thrombin generation. Additionally, increased fibrinolytic activity measured in vitro is not associated with an increase in cross-linked FDP. This suggests that short-term hyper- and hypoglycaemia do not affect the end-products of the coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways.

Blood Glucose

Coronary artery calibre after direct intra-arterial infusion of epoprostenol (prostacyclin).

Because epoprostenol (prostacyclin) is a prostaglandin that causes vasodilatation and inhibits platelet function it may be of benefit during coronary artery angioplasty. The safety and capacity of intracoronary epoprostenol to dilate coronary arteries were assessed in 16 patients undergoing routine coronary angiography. The view that best displayed the left epicardial coronary arteries was selected as a control for each patient. Intracoronary epoprostenol was then given and the angiogram was repeated in the chosen view. The procedure was repeated twice: once with a higher dose of epoprostenol and once after intracoronary isosorbide dinitrate. Angiograms were coded and analysed by an observer who was unaware of the treatment. The calibre of the arteries was measured from traced projections of the angiograms. The blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram were recorded throughout. The first two patients were given epoprostenol infusions of 2.5 and 5.0 ng/kg per minute to assess safety, and there were no untoward reactions. The next ten patients had epoprostenol infusions of 5.0 and 7.5 ng/kg per minute followed by intracoronary isosorbide dinitrate. No haemodynamic disturbances occurred and coronary luminal calibre did not change with epoprostenol (mean (SD) luminal diameter: 2.85 (0.62) mm control, 2.80 (0.61) mm at 5.0 ng/kg, and 2.80 (0.54) mm at 7.5 ng/kg), but it did increase significantly with isosorbide dinitrate (to 3.17 (0.36) mm). The last four patients had epoprostenol infusions of 7.5 and 10 ng/kg followed by intracoronary isosorbide dinitrate and two of them became hypotensive (one after epoprostenol and one after isosorbide dinitrate). Coronary luminal calibre did not change significantly (3.5 (0.45) mm control, 2.96 (0.81) mm at 7.5 ng/kg, 3.45 (0.96) mm at 10 ng/kg, and 3.20 (0.61) mm with isosorbide dinitrate). Eight patients developed tall T waves on the electrocardiogram during epoprostenol infusion but none had arrhythmias. The results indicate that clinically tolerable doses of intracoronary epoprostenol do not significantly dilate the epicardial coronary arteries. This route of administration is therefore unlikely to be of use during coronary angioplasty, although the antiplatelet action of intravenous epoprostenol might help to prevent restenosis.

Coronary Angiography

Hormonal control of haemostasis during hypoglycaemia in diabetes mellitus.

Factor VIII (FVIII) and plasminogen activator activity (PAA) rise during hypoglycaemia, and this might contribute to the vascular complications of diabetes. Similar changes in haemostasis accompany raised plasma levels of vasopressin (aVP) and adrenaline. To investigate the effects of these hormones on haemostasis during hypoglycaemia and the role of plasma insulin concentrations, eight insulin-dependent diabetic patients underwent controlled hypoglycaemia for 20 min and 13 diabetic patients were investigated during hyperinsulinaemia with blood glucose maintained at 8.0 mmol/l. During hypoglycaemia, insulin levels increased to median values of 114 mU/l, a VP rose from 0.5 to 4.4 (p less than 0.005) pg/ml and adrenaline from 0.4 to 4.4 nmol/l (p less than 0.005). FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) rose from 0.75 to 1.09 IU/ml (p less than 0.01) and the ristocetin co-factor (FVIIIR:Co) and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) showed similar responses. PAA increased from 156 to 745 units (p less than 0.005). During hyperinsulinaemia, insulin rose following infusion from 24 to 52 and 118 mU/l, maintained for an hour at each level. Despite this, plasma aVP, FVIII:C, FVIIIR:Co, vWF:Ag and PAA remained unchanged. This study indicates that the marked changes in FVIII, vWF and PAA concentrations which accompany hypoglycaemia depend on low blood glucose and not raised plasma insulin. The response in probably mediated by increases in adrenaline and aVP, which are part of the physiological response to hypoglycaemia.

Adolescent

Measurement of platelet loss in the blood compatibility assessment of biomaterials.

In the assessment of the in vitro blood compatibility of biomaterials, platelet loss is often attributed solely to platelet adhesion and consideration is not given to platelets lost in platelet aggregate formation. In order to distinguish between those platelets lost to adhesion and those lost to aggregate formation, the Wu and Hoak method for the quantification of circulating platelet aggregates in patients has been modified to establish a new test procedure. This procedure, which measures both platelet adhesion (PA) in the absence of platelets lost to aggregate formation and also the tendency of a material to induce aggregate formation, has been used to evaluate the influence of a range of polyamides and a hydrogel. The evaluation demonstrated the ability of polymers to induce readily platelet aggregates during in vitro blood-material contact. The sensitivity of the aggregate measurement was exemplified by the polyamides, where PA was similar for materials of different porosity but platelet aggregate formation increased significantly with porosity. The importance of considering platelets lost to aggregate formation was emphasized with the hydrogel, where PA was low.

Biocompatible Materials

Intra-operative activation of coagulation--a stimulus to thrombosis mediated by vasopressin?

Vasopressin infusions in normal volunteers that produce concentrations in plasma comparable to those seen during stress, cause an increase in plasma factor VIII and shortening of the euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT). We have investigated the relationship between endogenous vasopressin (aVP) release and haemostatic function in 7 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Blood samples were taken at nine intervals during the operative procedure. Plasma aVP levels peaked at median values of 51 pg/ml during bowel manipulation and remained elevated on the first post-operative day. Following, and in close temporal relationship with the rise in aVP there were increases in factor VIII coagulant activity, the ristocetin co-factor, von Willebrand antigen, plasminogen activator activity (10(6)/ECLT2) and fibrinopeptide A concentrations with shortening of the activated partial thromboplastin time. The relationship was similar to that seen following infusion of aVP in human volunteers. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that aVP is an important mediator of changes in haemostatic function which accompany stress and might contribute to the thrombotic risk associated with surgical operations.

Blood Coagulation

Vasopressin and catecholamine secretion during apomorphine-induced nausea mediate acute changes in haemostatic function in man.

Seven male volunteers were given apomorphine (14-20 micrograms/kg) subcutaneously on a total of ten occasions. Nausea was experienced on six occasions and on four occasions there was no effect. Venous samples were taken before injection, at peak nausea and 20 min later for assay of factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIIIC), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWFAg), the ristocetin cofactor (FVIIIRiCof), euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT), fibrinopeptide A (FPA), FPA generation time, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), vasopressin (aVP) and adrenaline. During nausea plasma aVP concentrations rose from median values of 0.4 pg/ml (at time 0) to 76 pg/ml at peak nausea and fell to 32 pg/ml 20 min later. Adrenaline rose from 0.36 to 0.91 nmol/l (P less than 0.05) before falling to 0.55 nmol/l. During nausea, FVIIIC rose from 100% to 143% (P less than 0.05) and to 214% (P less than 0.05) 20 min later. FVIIIRiCof and vWFAg showed similar changes. Plasminogen activator activity (10(6)/ECLT2) rose from 23 units at time 0 to 592 units during nausea and 1135 units (P less than 0.05) after 20 min. The APTT fell from 49 s to 44 s during the study, plasma FPA levels and the FPA generation time both remained unchanged. On the four occasions nausea was not experienced, there were no changes in vasopressin and catecholamine concentrations nor in haemostatic function. During the study, plasma aVP concentrations rose to levels previously shown to influence haemostatic function. This provides further support for the view that aVP has a secondary role as a mediator of acute changes in haemostasis, and during nausea contributes with adrenaline to an abrupt change in factor VIII and fibrinolytic activator activity.

Apomorphine

Does hypernatraemia promote thrombosis?

Hypernatraemic states are associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. To examine the relative contributions of sodium and vasopressin, we infused hypertonic saline in 11 male volunteers and measured the effect on factor VIII (FVIII), euglobulin clot lysis time (ELT) and fibrinopeptide A (FPA) generation. Samples were taken pre-infusion, hourly during a 3h infusion of 450 ml 6M saline and one hour after the infusion had stopped. Mean plasma osmolality (SEM) rose from 287(0.7) to 302(10) mOsm after 3h (p less than 0.01). Plasma vasopressin concentrations rose from 1.0(0.3) to 4(0.94) pg/ml over 3 hr (p 0.01). Plasminogen activator activity (10(6)/ELT2) rose from 65(10) to 372(55) units (p less than 0.001). There was a highly significant correlation between plasma osmolality and plasminogen activator activity (r = 0.5 p less than 0.0001). FPA generation time shortened from 7.2(0.4) to 5.4(0.6) min after 2h and 5.3(0.6) after 4h (n = 6). Values for FPA after 4 min incubation steadily increased from 5.8(1.2) to 14.3(4.6) pmol/ml during the infusion but differences failed to achieve statistical significance. FVIIIC (1 stage) remained constant at 75(5.5%) during the infusion. There was a small and statistically insignificant increase in FVIII RiCof after 3h and FVIII RAg decreased slightly. The results suggest that hypernatraemia and increasing plasma aVP concentrations produce changes in haemostatic function consistent with a hypercoaguable state. The mechanisms for the effect are unclear. These changes in haemostatic function might contribute to the thrombo-embolic complications of conditions such as hyperosmolar coma in diabetes mellitus or severe heatstroke in which degrees of hypernatraemia occur.

Factor VIII

A modification of the Wu and Hoak method for the determination of platelet aggregates and platelet adhesion.

The Wu and Hoak method for determining circulating platelet aggregates has poor reproducibility; problems have been reported with the composition of the buffer systems, haemolysis, the effects of blood collection technique and a divergence of the platelet aggregate ratio in blood for healthy donors from the theoretical value of 1. Our investigations suggest that the original technique is highly operator-dependent, especially the collection of blood and the method of counting platelets after centrifugation. We describe an improved modification of the Wu and Hoak technique; a new buffer system has been developed and the proportion of blood in the buffered EDTA and buffered EDTA-formalin solutions has been altered to obtain platelet rich plasma. The platelet aggregate ratio (PAR) by this modified method for healthy donors in two different studies was 0.97 +/- 0.02 and 0.98 +/- 0.01 respectively. Finally, the principle of Wu and Hoak was used to measure accurately platelet adhesion, without the role of platelet-platelet interactions (aggregation). Platelet adhesion and aggregation were then used to evaluate the thrombogenicity of various artificial surfaces, including silicone rubber and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular grafts.

Blood Specimen Collection

Effects of oral stanozolol used in the prevention of postoperative deep vein thrombosis on fibrinolytic activity.

Plasminogen, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, euglobulin lysis time, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and fast-acting t-PA inhibitor were measured in 21 patients receiving either stanozolol (10 mg orally given for 14 days preoperatively) or subcutaneous heparin, during a continuing comparative trial in the prevention of postoperative deep vein thrombosis. Stanozolol treatment resulted in significant (p less than 0.01) increases between the 14th and 1st preoperative days in the plasma concentrations of plasminogen (3.4 to 4.9 Cu/ml) and antithrombin III (107% to 132%); t-PA levels did not increase significantly (6.0 to 16.0 mU/ml; p greater than 0.1). There were significant (p less than 0.02) falls in fast-acting t-PA inhibitor (132% to 75%) and fibrinogen (2.4 to 1.8 g/l). Surgery reversed the changes in fibrinolytic activity seen preoperatively in the stanozolol-treated patients, and similar changes were seen in the heparin-treated group. In this dosage, stanozolol does not appear to prevent the fibrinolytic shutdown which occurs after elective major surgery.

Fibrinolysis