Utilization of the labile factor during normal and abnormal coagulation of blood.

Abstract

SummaryThe percentage of labile factor and prothrombin activities and accelerator effect found in serum after completion of the coagulation of blood are in inverse quantitative proportions. A very small percentage of labile factor and prothrombin activity can be found in sera of healthy subjects; in this case high values of accelerator are the rule. Low values of accelerator and a large percentage of prothrombin and labile factor activity are found whenever the formation of thrombin is deficient because of the depletion of either thromboplastin (hemophilia, thrombocytopenic purpura) or prothrombin and labile factor (liver dysfunction). In dicumarol hypoprothrombinemia the available prothrombin is well utilized during coagulation, but the percentage in serum of unconverted labile factor is high and that of the accelerator low.