The potentiating effect of cortisone (prednisolone) on the fibrinolytic and clotting factor VIII responses to intravenous infusion of adrenaline in man.

In an attempt to investigate the effect of the proposed interaction between corticosteroids and adrenaline in stressful situations on fibrinolysis and coagulation, blood plasminogen activator and clotting factor VIII were measured before and after a prolonged adrenaline infusion (3.5 micrograms/min for 30 min) in 4 asthmatic patients on long-term corticosteroid (prednisolone) therapy and their responses were compared with healthy controls. Asthmatic patients showed greater responses of both parameters to adrenaline than controls indicating that long-term corticosteroid treatment enhances the acute responses of plasminogen activator and clotting factor VIII to adrenaline infusion.