The liver plays an important role in maintaining blood hemostasis. It participates in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism, and eliminates various endogenous and exogenous molecules. A multitude of substances, including vitamins (A, D, B12, K, E, and B1), are stored in its cells. The liver is also the site of synthesis of plasma proteins, most coagulation factors, anticoagulant proteins, compounds of fibrinolysis, and stimulators of erythropoesis. 1 Liver pathologies lead to complex disorders in the blood hemostasis system in which the procoagulant and anticoagulant potentials are imbalanced, causing thrombotic events or hemorrhages. 2,3

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Introduction. The performed research focused on a search for new biologically active compounds acting on blood coagulation system proteins and cells. To achieve this goal, we fractionated Vipera berus berus snake venom and studied the action of the separated fractions on human blood plasma, fibrinogen, platelets or red cells. Methods. Crude venom was fractionated using ion-exchange chromatography. Protein composition of fractions was studied using SDS-PAGE. The ability of fractions to prolong or initiate blood plasma clotting was studied using the prothrombin time test with thromboplastin. Fibrinogen-specific proteases were detected using enzyme-electrophoresis. Action on red cells was estimated using the hemolysis test. Aggregometry was used for the detection of action on platelets. All experiments in this study were performed in vitro. Results. We obtained fractions containing phospholipase and a protease that is able to hydrolyze fibrinogen, leading to the loss of its ability to polymerize and to maintain platelet aggregation. Conclusion. Further purification and study of these components can be a promising research direction for biotechnological as well as for biomedical use.

The objective: to study the state of the platelet link of hemostasis in pregnant women with placental dysfunction. Materials and methods. A clinical and laboratory analysis of 54 patients with placental dysfunction was carried out. The control group included 30 practically healthy women with a physiological course of pregnancy. Venous blood of the patients was collected for testing using vacuum systems in tubes with 3.8% sodium citrate. The functional activity of platelets was studied on a photooptical aggregometer AP2110 (Solar, Belarus), thrombocytogram was performed on a hematological analyzer H18 LIGHT (SFRI SAS, France), thromboelastometric tests were determined on the ROTEM delta system (Tem Innovations GmbH, Germany). Results. Platelet hemostasis has a significant effect on maximum clot firmness (MCF) according to ROTEM results in patients with placental dysfunction. This indicator can be effective in determination of the hyperreactivity of the platelet unit in patients with placental dysfunction. Although no statically significant difference was found in the optical aggregometry indicators induced by ADP and collagen between the patients with placental dysfunction and the control group, a clear tendency to a sharp reduction in the lag-period of collagen-induced platelet aggregation in patients with placental dysfunction should be mentioned. Conclusions. Disorders in the platelet chain of hemostasis can play a significant role in the formation of a thrombophilic state in patients with placental dysfunction, as well as the damage of the endothelium and coagulation changes. The use of a test based on collagen-induced platelet aggregation may be a perspective method for effective diagnosis of platelet hyperreactivity. The study of the platelet link should become an additional element of the laboratory examination in order to resolve the issue of the need to prescribe antiplatelet agents to prevent the development of placental dysfunction.