Thromb Haemost 2001; 85(04): 736-742
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1615661
Review Articles
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Absence of Fibrinogen in Afibrinogenemia Results in Large but Loosely Packed Thrombi under Flow Conditions

Jasper A. Remijn
1   Thrombosis and Haemostasis Laboratory, Department of Haematology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Ya-Ping Wu
1   Thrombosis and Haemostasis Laboratory, Department of Haematology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Martin J. W. IJsseldijk
1   Thrombosis and Haemostasis Laboratory, Department of Haematology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Jaap J. Zwaginga
1   Thrombosis and Haemostasis Laboratory, Department of Haematology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Jan J. Sixma
1   Thrombosis and Haemostasis Laboratory, Department of Haematology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Philip G. de Groot
1   Thrombosis and Haemostasis Laboratory, Department of Haematology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
J. A. Remijn was supported by the Netherlands Heart Foundation (grant 95.169). J. A. Remijn and Y. P. Wu contributed equally to this work.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 23 August 2001

Accepted after resubmission 14 November 2000

Publication Date:
08 December 2017 (online)

Summary

We studied the role of fibrinogen in platelet thrombus formation under flow on adhesive proteins using afibrinogenemic blood (LMWH anticoagulated) in a perfusion system. Perfusions with afibrinogenemic blood showed strong increased surface coverage and thrombus volume that normalized upon addition of fibrinogen. Similar studies using citrate anticoagulated blood showed that this was due to fibrinogen and not fibrin. Morphological analysis showed that afibrinogenemic thrombi were loosely packed and consisted mainly of dendritic platelets that contacted one another through filopodia. However, in the presence of fibrinogen, platelets formed lamellipodia and spread out on top of one another. Studies with radiolabeled platelets showed similar numbers of platelets in both conditions demonstrating that the difference is one of packing and the larger size is due to absence of lamellipodia formation and spreading. The found increased thrombus size and loosely packed platelets might help to understand thrombotic complications sometimes seen in afibrinogenemia patients.

 
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