A study of the effect of acute systemic anaphylaxis on blood coagulation and TAME esterase activity in calves.

Sensitized and control calves were challenged with an intravenous dose of 0.2 mL/kg horse serum. Changes in the blood pressure, blood cellular components, plasma kaolin activated p-tosyl-1-arginine methyl ester esterase activity, plasma antithrombin III levels and activated partial thromboplastin time were monitored. Anaphylaxis induced a severe drop in carotid arterial pressure and respiratory distress. There was a decrease in the total white blood cell count from a mean of 10,000 to a low of 1,900 per microL, a decrease in the percentage neutrophils and an increase in the percentage of lymphocytes from 57.4% to 94.8%. A drop was observed in the mean platelet count from 463 x 10(3)/microL. The time required for kaolin to produce maximum p-tosyl-1-arginine methyl ester esterase activation increased from two minutes in the controls to three minutes in calves undergoing anaphylaxis and was observed three to 90 minutes after the administration of horse serum. Antithrombin III levels in the plasma appeared to drop during anaphylaxis but were not significantly depressed (p greater than or equal to 0.5). A statistically significant (p < 0.5) drop in the rate of blood coagulation was observed by the activated partial thromboplastin time assay at 15 to 30 minutes after horse serum injection.