title: Elevated prothrombin results in clots with an altered fiber structure: a possible mechanism of the increased thrombotic risk.
abstract: Individuals with elevated prothrombin levels are at increased risk of venous thrombosis. To understand the mechanism behind this observation, we studied the effect of prothrombin concentration on thrombin generation and fibrin clot structure. The pattern of thrombin generation was directly related to the prothrombin level at all concentrations tested. From 0% to 300% of normal plasma levels of prothrombin, increasing the prothrombin concentration increased the initial rate, peak, and total amount of thrombin generated. Importantly, fibrin clot structure was also affected by the prothrombin concentration. Fibrin clots made from prothrombin concentrations less than 10% of plasma levels were weak and poorly formed. Fibrin clots made at 10% to 100% of plasma levels of prothrombin had similar fiber structures (mass-to-length ratio; mu). However, the fiber mass-to-length ratio decreased with increasing prothrombin levels more than 100% of plasma levels, in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that increased levels of prothrombin alter thrombin generation and clot structure. Specifically, elevated prothrombin levels produce clots with reduced fibrin mass-to-length ratios compared with normal clots. We hypothesize that this alteration in fibrin clot structure is an important determinant of the risk of thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: Alisa S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wolberg
authors.forename: Dougald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Monroe
authors.forename: Harold R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Maureane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoffman
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000502:physiology; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D015539:Platelet Activation; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D012306:Risk; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000209:etiology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D011516:Prothrombin; D005337:Fibrin; D013917:Thrombin