Fibrinogen, factor VIII and factor XIII levels in children with various renal diseases

Abstract

Fibrinogen (Fg), factor VIII and factor XIII levels in the plasma were found to correlate closely with the results of renal biopsy in 29 children with renal disease, including 9 cases of acute glomerulonephritis (AGN), 9 of nephrotic syndrome (NS) and 11 of purpura nephritis (PN). At the acute phase of AGN, mild deposition of Fg, factor VIII related antigen (VIIIR: AG), factor XIII subunit A (XIII-A) and factor XIII subunit S (XIII-S) were limited to the glomerular capillaries together with a slightly increased Fg level and a low factor XIII in the plasma. In recovery or persistent cases, these values showed normal levels, and no deposition of VIII R: AG and XIII-A was detected.In NS, the Fg, factor VIII and factor XIII levels were elevated in the relapse phase, but these changes were reversed in patiants with remission. Minimal changes were not associated with detection of these coagulant factors within the glomeruli. On the other hand, intense deposition of Fg with mild VIII R: AG, XIII-A and XIII-S was detected in cases with mesangial proliferation or focal sclerosing lesions.High levels of Fg, factor VIII procoagulant activity (VIII: C) and VIII R: AG were found in the acute phase of PN, and cases with crescent formation revealed an increased level of Fg accompanied with a decrease in factor XIII. In PN, intraglomerular deposition of Fg, VIII R: AG, XIII-A and XIII-S were almost present, and a tendency to form intense or dense Fg deposits was characteristic of this disease. Deposition of Fg was observed in the crescents, but VIII R: AG, XIII-A and XIII-S deposits were not present in such lesion.