COMPARISON OF HUMAN AND RABBIT BRAIN THROMBOPLASTIN IN THE EVALUATION OF LIVER DISEASE
In the UK, rabbit brain thromboplastin has recently replaced human thromboplastin. Since the sensitivity of thromboplastin varies according to species of origin, and the calibration of thromboplastins is based entirely on samples from normal subjects and patients on oral anticoagulants, a separate assessment is required in patients with liver disease. We have compared prothrombin times and specific one stage assays of factors V, VII and X in plasma from 19 patients with establishe < liver disease using rabbit thromboplastin (Manchester reagent, MR) and human thromboplastin (Manchester comparative reagent, MCR). Both materials were kindly provided by the National (UK) Reference Laboratory for Anticoagulant Control. Three separate analyses were performed on the prothrombin time data viz clotting time, prolongation of prothrombin time compared with control and prothrombin ratio. All were significantly longer with MR (p 0.001, paired ‘t’ test) although correlation was goo< (r=0.95 in all instances).In the assay of factors V, VII and X no significant differences were obtained with the two thromboplastins and correlation was good over a range of abnormality (Ranges for MCR and MR respectively were Factor V:0.31-1.23u/ml and 0.32-1.I6u/ml, r=0.96; Factor VII:0.07-1.22u/ml and 0.07-1.17u/ml, r=0.97; Factor X;0.18-1.Olu/ml and 0.17-1.03u/ml, r=0.96. We conclude that in the investigation of the haemostatic defect associated with liver disease rabbit brain thromboplastin is a suitable alternative to human material.