Euglobulin Clot Lysis Time (ELT) was measured with a Time Saving Recorder (Carmanan Co., England) for 67 normal subjects comprising 34 males (aged 22∼41) and 33 females (aged 12∼52) and for 17 acute and chronic leukemia patients, and an evaluation was made of the values obtained.
Standarization of clot formation was undertaken as the prerequisite study. The following basic points were tested: the adequate volume of the standard clot, the adequate thrombin concentration, the effect of the contact system on ELT, the effect of the period of euglobulin precipitation on ELT, and the effect of the fibrinogen content of the standard clot on ELT. In the case of normal ELT's, the mean value and its deviation, the effect of the contact system, the correlation between plasma fibrinogen content and ELT, and the relation between ELT and the standard fibrin plate method were assessed. In the case of the leukemia patients' plasma ELT, the mean value and its deviation were obtained, and a comparison was made with the normal values. The results may be summarized as follows:
1) The adequate volume of the standard clot was 0.5∼0.6 m
l for our assay system using the Time Saving Recorder.
2) A thrombin concentration of 20 u/m
l∼50 u/m
l in the 0.1 m
l thrombin sample was adequate for 0.5 m
l of euglobulin.
3) The period of euglobulin precipitation was observed to influence the enzymatic activity when it extended over 24 hours.
4) The contact system was observed to enhance slightly only weak fibrinolysis, implying that it is not necessary to use intact plasma for practical application of the ELT Recorder.
5) The fibrinogen content of the standard clot was observed to influence the ELT in an in vitro experimental system, but in practical observations there was no correlation between plasma fibrinogen level and ELT.
6) There was a tendence for ELT to be correlated with the fibrinolytic activity determined by the standard fibrin plate method.
7) The average ELT value for the 67 normal subjects was 263 minutes and its standard deviation was 125 minutes. There were no significant differences between males and females.
8) A clear prolongation of ELT was observed in the leukemia patients. The average value was 784±447 minutes.
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