COAGULATION ACTIVATION IN EXTRACORPOREAL HEMODIALYSIS

The Authors evaluated the behavior of protein C activity, factor X and factor VII coagulant activity and serum lipoprotein(a) before and aft er dialytic treatment in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. They ob served depressed protein C activity that significantly (p<0.005) incre ased and became normal immediately after hemodialysis while factor X a nd factor VII increased (p<0.01; p<0.05) despite heparinization togeth er with amount of serum lipoprotein(a). In vitro incubation (30' at 37 degrees C) of uremic and healthy blood showed a decrease in serum lip oprotein(a) concentration. After heparin addition (final concentration 0.5 U/ml) lipoprotein(a) increased in the uremic blood only. The clin ical and physiopathological implications of these results are discusse d.