Formation of Soluble Complexes of Fibrinogen Related Material During Ancrod Infusion

Abstract

Seven pationts undergoing therapeutic defibrination by ancrod infusion were studied. Blood samples were obtained before treatment and after 6 and 24 hours ancrod infusion. Fibrinogen and its derivatives were precipitated with beta-alanine and separated by ΰ per cent agarose gel filtration. A range of soluble complexes were demonstrated after 6 hours infusion. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS showed that the soluble complexes were largely composed of units with molecular weight similar to a minimally degraded early Fragment X. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS and mercaptoethanol showed a marked loss of intact alphachain in the soluble complexes when compared with the uncomplexed material, suggesting that the soluble complexes had undergone preferential fibrinolytic digestion. It is suggested that, during ancrod therapy, FDP may be produced directly from soluble complexes rather than insoluble micro-thrombi as has been suggested previously.