[Heparin and antiheparin in childhood. 2. Clinical relevance of the phenomenon of heparin resistance].

Investigations of the content of platelet factor 4 in different thrombocyte lysates and platelet-rich plasma after induced release reaction were aimed at checking the efficiency of the own antiheparin measuring system. In this connection, the age dependent dynamics of platelet factor 4 could be first discovered. In platelet-poor plasma of healthy grown-up test persons there was an evidence of antiheparin titres which were five times higher as compared with those persons born maturely. All patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation processes of different aetiology, however, will have significantly increased values. As demonstrated in two children with hyperpyretic toxicosis, the liberated platelet factor 4 will only show a short plasma half decay period. From investigations made for refinding heparin in the plasma after in vitro addition the conclusion can be drawn that, in addition to platelet factor 4, even unspecific adhesions of heparin to certain plasma proteins may be responsible for increasing heparin resistance.