Summary
The role of Hageman factor in triggering intravascular coagulation has been studied
in rabbits injected intravenously with Liquoid. Besides changes of coagulation parameters
characteristic of consumption coagulopathy (e.g. decrease in platelet counts, fibrinogen
levels, factor V activity), a pronounced drop in Hageman factor activity was observed
after injection of Liquoid. Likewise, the partial thromboplastin time became prolonged.
The activation of Hageman factor in vivo could be prevented by intravenous infusion
of lysozyme. Twenty min after starting the lysozyme infusion, the partial thromboplastin
time became prolonged from a mean of 29 sec to 108 sec. Animals infused with lysozyme
and injected with a lethal dose of Liquoid did not develop a consumption coagulopathy.
In the same manner, none of 10 animals treated with lysozyme developed the generalized
Shwartzman reaction, whereas in the control group 19 out of 20 animals showed fibrin
thrombi in the glomerular capillaries.
From the present study it may be concluded that the intravascular coagulation process
after intravenous injection of Liquoid is triggered by Hageman factor activation.