Changes of high molecular weight kininogen in various states

Changes of high molecular weight kininogen (HMW-K) clotting activity, antigen and cleavage in the plasma in the health and various diseases were studied. In 20 healthy individuals clotting activity of HMW-K, as measured by APTT one stage method, was 99 +/- 12% (male) and 84 +/- 15% (female). Antigen as measured by Laurell method were 106 +/- 24% (male) and 91 +/- 21% (female). In 35 patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), both activity (78 +/- 33%) and antigen (69 +/- 31%) were statistically lower than those in normal individuals (p less than 0.01). In DIC both activity and antigen of HMW-K was correlated with serum albumin level. These results suggest that the cause of the lower level of HMW-K in DIC especially with septicemia is the result of lower production rather than consumption. In vivo cleavage of HMW-K was detected in plasma of a patient with septicemia and DIC by immunoblotting. The change of HMW-K was also assessed in other pathological states including liver cirrhosis, collagen disease, cardiopulmonary bypass and pregnant women.