An automated method for fibrin clot permeability assessment.
The fibrin clot permeability coefficient (Ks) is a useful measure of porosity of the fibrin network, which is determined by a number of genetic and environmental factors. Currently available methods to evaluate Ks are time-consuming, require constant supervision and provide only one parameter. We present an automated method in which drops are weighed individually, buffer is dosed by the pump and well defined clot washing is controlled by the software. The presence of a straight association between drop mass and their dripping time allows to shorten the measurement time twice. In 40 healthy individuals, Ks, the number of drops required to reach the plateau (DTP), the time to achieve the plateau (TTP) and the DTP/TTP ratio (DTR) were calculated. There was a positive association between Ks (r = 0.69, P < 0.0001) evaluated by using the manual [median of 4.17 (3.60-5.18) ·10⁻⁹ cm²) and the automated method [median of 4.35 (3.74-5.38) ·10⁻⁹ cm²]. The correlation was stronger (r = 0.85, P < 0.001) in clots with DTP of 7 or less (n = 12). DTP was associated with total homocysteine (tHcy) (r = 0.35, P < 0.05) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (r = -0.34, P < 0.05), TTP with Ks (r = -0.55, P < 0.01 for the manual method and r = -0.44, P < 0.01 for the automated method) and DTP (r = 0.75, P < 0.0001), and DTR with Ks (r = 0.70, P < 0.0001 for the manual method and r = 0.76, P < 0.0001 for the automated method), fibrinogen (r = -0.58, P < 0.0001) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = -0.47, P < 0.01). The automated method might be a suitable tool for research and clinical use and may offer more additional parameters describing fibrin clot structure.
aInstitute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College and John Paul II Hospital bDepartment of Automatics and Biomedical Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland.
Michał
M
Ząbczyk
Adam
A
Piłat
Magdalena
M
Awsiuk
Anetta
A
Undas
D000328:Adult; D001331:Automation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability; D055815:Young Adult
D005337:Fibrin; D005340:Fibrinogen