title: Fibrin detected in plasma of patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation by fibrin-specific antibodies consists primarily of high molecular weight factor XIIIa-crosslinked and plasmin-modified complexes partially containing fibrinopeptide A.
abstract: Pooled plasma from 40 patients with severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) secondary to septic conditions was subjected to gel permeation chromatography on Sephacryl S-500 HR after sample pretreatment with KSCN for dissociation of non-covalent fibrin complexes. Fibrin antigen in eluates was detected by an array of ELISA tests, using two monoclonal antibodies against fibrin degradation product D-dimer, a monoclonal antibody against an epitope generated by plasmin cleavage of the D-domain, and an antibody against the neo-N-terminus of the alpha-chain of fibrin exposed by cleavage of fibrinopeptide A. Tag antibodies were a polyclonal antibody against the fibrinogen/ fibrin D-domain, a POD-conjugated version of the monoclonal antibody against fibrin alpha-chain neo-N-terminus, and a polyclonal antibody against fibrinopeptide A. Most fibrin-related material present in the pooled DIC plasma was of higher molecular mass than fibrinogen. Fibrin polymers were reactive with antibodies against D-dimer, plasmin cleaved D-domain, and fibrin alpha-chain neo-N-terminus. Part of the polymers reacted with antibodies against fibrinopeptide A, indicating presence of fibrinogen or desA-fibrin monomer within the covalently linked complex. In conclusion, the primary analytes detected by monoclonal antibodies for D-dimer, plasmin-specific epitopes of fibrin degradation products, as well as sites exposed by fibrinopeptide cleavage in plasma from patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation are high molecular weight factor XIIIa-crosslinked fibrin complexes, containing plasmin-cleaved D-domains, intact fibrin monomer units, and fibrinogen or desA-fibrin monomer.
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Klinikum Mannheim, First Department of Medicine, Germany.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pfitzner
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dempfle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Heene
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D005337:Fibrin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000032:analysis*; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A; D005337:Fibrin; D011503:Transglutaminases; D005341:Fibrinolysin