Changes in Plasma Prekallikrein, High and Low Molecular Weight Kininogens in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Abstract

Changea in components in kallikrein-kinin system have been studied in 15 cases with disseminated Intravascular coagulation (DIC). Nine out of the total cases had infection and six cases had malignancy as primary diseases. Plasma prekallikrein (FKK) was determined by a radiochemical assay using 3H-TAME according to Imanari et al.(1974). High and low molecular weight kininogens (HMWK and LMWK) were bioassayed according to Uchida and Katori (in press). If plasma factor XII, measured in each case, was less than 50 % of normal, values of PKK and HMWK in examined plasma were caliculated from those in 1:1 mixture of examined plasma and normal plasma. All of PKK, HMWK and LMWK Showed moderate to marked decrease in every case with DIC. The values for PKK, HMWK and LMWK were 0.23 0.07 TAME unit/ml (normally 0.620.13), 0,20 0.07 ug(bradykinin equiv.)/ml (normally 0.66 0.14) and 1.24 0.44 ug/ml (normally 2.57 0.41), respectively. There was a significant correlation between PKK and antithrombin III levels (r=0.66, P 0.001) in those cases with DIC. PKK was also directly correlated with HMWK and factor XII. Decrease in PKK and HMWK may be chiefly due to consumption. The mechanism for reduction In LMWK, however, remains to be determined. It may be concluded that plasma prekallikrein, high and low molecular weight kininogens decrease in DIC.