Studies of coagulation and fibrinolysis by new technic of continuous recording.

ECENT ADVANCES in our knowledge commcerniisg the formatiomi amid dissolution of clots has emphasized the importanice of in vitro coagulation studies imi diagnosis and treatment. These studies geiserally involve one basic observatioms, i.e., the time necessary for the formation or dissolution of a visible clot. Technics based on this observation give no information about the quality of the clot, or the kinetics of its formation. Several attempts have been made to record continuously some physical property of the clot in order to follow its development or dissolution. Richardson amid Bishop’ have measured and recorded graphically the electrical conductivity of clotting systems. Aymerick, Massa and Velasquez2 have recorded continuously changes in viscosity during coagulation. Both these methods involve a significant degree of physical and/or electrical trauma which might produce artefacts, and both methods terminate in a peak end-point. Recently Harterttm has developed a precision instrument (thrombelastograph) which records changes in a physical characteristic of the clot during its development and also its dissolution. The record obtained (coagulogram) reflects certain characteristics of the quality of the clot amid the kinetics of its formatioms not appreciated by the usual methods of observing clotting. Our preliminary observations with this apparatus4 are extemided in this reports.