Factor VIII (procoagulant activity VIII:C, and antigen VIII:CAg, related antigen VIIIR:Ag and ristocetin cofactor VIIIR:Cof) in intensive care patients with clinically suspected disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

VIII

C, VIII:CAg, VIIIR:Ag and VIIIR:Cof were determined repeatedly in nine shock patients with suspected DIC and in five patients with uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction and compared with the clinical course and the severity of DIC as reflected by a score based on six routine coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters. All shock patients showed high levels of VIIIR:Ag, VIIIR:Cof, and VIII:CAg, averaging fivefold to sixfold the normal level, of VIII:C averaging threefold the normal level. VIIIR:Cof and VIIIR:Ag significantly correlated in both groups of patients. In shock patients, VIII:C values were lower than VIII:CAg and varied between 40-90% of VIII:CAg. There were significant negative correlations between the DIC score on the one hand and ratios of VIII:C/VIIIR:Ag, VIII:C/VIII:CAg, and VIII:CAg/VIIIR:Ag on the other. The two patients who died from irreversible shock had the highest DIC score and lowest ratios of VIII:C/VIIIR:Ag and VIII:CAg/VIIIR:Ag as well as VIII:C/VIIIR:Cof and VIII:CAg/VIIIR:Cof. Released VIIIR:Ag multimers possess the ristocetin cofactor activity. In DIC, VIII:CAg is partially proteolyzed, however, less than VIII:C. The quotient VIII:C/VIIIR:Cof or VIII:C/VIIIR:Ag is a good indicator of the severity of DIC and may have important prognostic value.