Abstract
A possible relationship may exist between the concentration of heparin-activated plasma clearing factor and alterations in lipid metabolism associated with advancing age, atherosclerosis, and other diseases. To test this hypothesis, 121 men were evaluated in the development and application of a standardized in vitro method for the determination of clearing factor response to minimal heparin stimulation. Eighty-four men, ranging from 21 to 93 years, selected from this group, were evaluated in an age-wise study. Patients with diagnoses of recent myocardial infarction (presumptive evidence of coronary atherosclerosis), cirrhosis of the liver, and chronic alcoholism were also tested.