Abstract: | Factor VIII coagulant antigen (FVIII:Ag) and FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) were measured in 102 healthy individuals, in 5 hemophilia A carriers and in 21 hemophilia A patients before and after infusion of heat-treated high-purity FVIII concentrates. Factor VIII:Ag was determined by a solid-phase micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using monoclonal antibodies and by a conventional solid-phase immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Factor VIII:C was assessed using a one-stage assay. The micro ELISA was decidedly more precise than the IRMA. There was a close correlation between the results obtained by the three assays in the plasma of healthy subjects and in hemophilia A carriers. After transfusion of FVIII concentrates to hemophilia A patients, the FVIII:Ag recoveries were significantly lower than the FVIII:C recoveries and the biological half-life of FVIII:Ag was significantly shorter than for FVIII:C. The calculated half-life of FVIII:C was longer than in any previous study. |