Endogenous anticoagulants in shock

Abstract

IN the course of studies of coagulation defects found in experimentally produced shock in dogs it was noted that many dogs that died showed abnormal and clinically visible bleeding which occurred during the late phases of shock and often as a terminal event. A study was undertaken to determine if these events were associated with changes in the clotting mechanism and particularly if anticoagulant substances were produced by the shock state. This communication re-Forts the results of this inquiry. Materials and Methods Eighteen adult mongrel dogs were maintained under usual laboratory conditions. Anesthesia was intravenous barbiturate (Nembutal 65 mg./ml.). A single lot of E. coli lipopolysaccharide t was used for all experiments. All blood specimens were obtained as atraumatically as possible from an exposed femoral vein using a No. 18 needle and siliconized glassware. Tests performed included: 1) Silicone Clotting Time. Clotting time of a 1 ml. aliquot of venous blood was determined at 370 C. in a siliconized test tube; 2) Silicone Clotting Time Modified by Electric Cur