STUDIES ON HEMOPHILIA

Abstract

In contrast to normal serum, hemophilic serum is relatively incapable of accelerating the conversion of plasma prothrombin to thrombin in the presence of thromboplastin and Ca. This defect also persists despite acceleration of coagulation to normal by additions of normal plasma or thromboplastin. Serum from hemophilic blood which clots rapidly in the presence of large supplements of thromboplastin may still retain substantial prothrombin activity, whereas under the same conditions normal serum is devoid of prothrombin activity. There is a marked discrepancy between the prothrombin activity of hemophilic serum as determined by the 1- and the 2-stage procedures.