Alterations of Haemostasis During Liver Failure by CCl4 in Pig

Abstract

Ten pigs of 30-40 kg body weight,received a 0.05 ml/kg b.w. CCl4 injection in hepatic artery. Before and 30 min, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 24hr after injection a blood sample was drawn from femoral artery. White,red cells and platelet counts , APTT, Prothrombin, Fibrinogen, Factor VIII AHF(one-stage method), Platelet Aggregation(P.A.) according Born by ADP 2μM were performed. Very high levels of VIII AHF and fibrinogen and a reversible P.A. have been observed on basal sample. After CCl4 injection a progressive lowering of prothrombin, fibrinogen and platelets, and a prolonged APTT have been observed. P.A. was reduced to 20-3010%. VIII AHF showed variable levels during the first 3 hrs but a clear increase more than 150% of the initial value has been observed from the 6th to 9th hr. Unfortunatly many efforts to assay VIII AGN by an antiserum against human VIII AGN, have been failed. An activation of VIII AHF cannot be excluded but the late increase after liver necrosis seems to suggest a real VIII AHF increase. The high degree of variability of pigs survival, ranging from 9 to 24 hrs has prompted us to search for another experimental model of acute hepatic failure.