Evaluation of white blood cell concentration, plasma fibrinogen concentration, and an agar gel immunodiffusion test for early identification of foals withRhodococcus equipneumonia

SummaryA 74-year-old female developed pneumonia following herpes simplex encephalitis. Her white blood cell counts reached 28,400/μl, about 90% of which consisted of granulocytes. The polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase/α1-arantitrypsin complex levels increased and reached the maximum of 5,019 ng/ml, indicating the release of a large amount of elastase derived from the granulocytes. The mechanism of PMN elastase release was most likely to be granulocyte destruction associated with phagocytosis. The cleavage of fibrinogen and fibrin by PMN elastase, independent of plasmin, was indicated by the presence of the fragments in immunoprecipitated plasma from the patient corresponding to elastase-induced FDP D and DD fragments and the absence of fragments corresponding to plasmin-induced FDP D and DD fragments on SDS-PAGE. These findings suggested that the large amount of PMN elastase released from the excessive numbers of granulocytes in this patient with herpes simplex encephalitis and pneumonia, induced the cleavage of fibrinogen and fibrin without the participation of plasmin.

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Some Factors Influencing Metabolism and Distribution of Fibrinogen in Man and Rabbits

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1649225 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 37 (02) ◽

pp. 243-252

Author(s):

Yi-Hsiang Chen ◽

E. B Reeve

Keyword(s):

Plasma Fibrinogen ◽

Synthesis Rate ◽

Fibrinogen Concentration ◽

Fractional Catabolic Rate ◽

System Parameters ◽

Catabolic Rate ◽

Simultaneous Decrease ◽

Normal Males ◽

Healthy Females ◽

Made In

SummaryTo shed some light on the homeostatic regulation of plasma fibrinogen, metabolic studies were made in healthy females, and in normal, thyroidectomized, and thyroxine-treated rabbits. In females, compared with normal males, plasma fibrinogen concentration, plasma and interstitial fibrinogen decreased consequent to an increased fractional catabolic rate and a normal fibrinogen synthesis rate. The interstitial/plasma fibrinogen ratio remained unchanged. In normal rabbits, with increasing body weight fractional catabolic rate and catabolic rate decreased, while fibrinogen concentration and plasma fibrinogen remained constant owing to a simultaneous decrease in fibrinogen synthesis. In addition, fractional transcapillary transfer rate and transcapillary flux also decreased resulting in a shrinkage of interstitial fibrinogen. Thyroidectomy and thyroxine-injection markedly altered fibrinogen metabolism: thyroid hormone accelerated fibrinogen catabolism but also stimulated synthesis. The net result was an increase in plasma fibrinogen and fibrinogen concentration. The interstitial/plasma fibrinogen ratio decreased in thyroxine-treated, and increased in thyroidectomized animals. This study defines the variations of the fibrinogen system parameters in these physiologic and pathologic conditions, and illustrates some patterns of alterations in fibrinogen metabolism.

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