G. Ballerini et al., A PHOTOMETRIC-METHOD FOR THE DOSAGE OF FACTOR-XIII APPLIED TO THE STUDY OF CHRONIC HEPATOPATHIES, Thrombosis research, 78(5), 1995, pp. 451-456
The photometric method of Fickenscher et al. for the determination of
factor XIII (FXIII) activity has been used in the study of 35 patients
with severe chronic hepatopathy, in comparison with 25 normal subject
s. The FXIII proteic fractions a and b were determined by quantitative
immuno-electrophoresis after Laurell. The plasmatic FXIII activity, a
s well as the proteic fractions a and b, were significantly reduced in
hepatopatic patients, in comparison to controls, and proportional to
the prolongation of prothrombin times Ratios between functional and im
munological levels of FXIII In hepatopatics were similar to those obse
rved in controls. These results confirm the involvement of fibrin stab
ilization deficiency in the coagulation defect of severe chronic hepat
opathies. The correlations between functional and antigenic values are
in agreement with the hepatic origin of FXIII. The method of Fickensc
her has been proved to be rapid and simple, and it may be useful in th
e routine study of hepatopathies, for a better knowledge of the role o
f FXIII deficiency in the complex coagulopathy of liver diseases, as w
ell as of other acquired FXIII deficiencies.