Iatrogenic immunization with bovine thrombin: a mechanism for prolonged thrombin times after surgery

Article Abstract:

The time it takes blood to coagulate or clot, known as thrombin time, was prolonged in four surgical patients, although other coagulation factors were normal and they had no history of blood clotting abnormalities. Further laboratory studies suggested that there were factors in the patients' blood that interfered with the action of the blood clotting factor thrombin. Bovine thrombin (thrombin derived from cows) had been used in all patients in a previous surgery as a clotting agent. When human thrombin was used instead of bovine thrombin, the clotting ability of the blood was normal. This suggested that the factors in the patients' blood were specifically directed against bovine thrombin. Immunological tests showed that the blood of these patients contained immunoglobulin antibodies, specialized proteins that inactivate foreign substances, and these antibodies were specifically directed against bovine thrombin. Thus, antibodies to bovine thrombin were produced during previous exposure to bovine thrombin, and accounted for the prolonged clotting time after the later surgery. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Measurement, Prevention, Immunoglobulins, Blood coagulation factors, Thrombin, Blood clotting, Blood coagulation

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Patient beliefs about lung cancer surgery

Article Abstract:

Some African-Americans believe that exposing a lung tumor to air during surgery will cause it to spread to other parts of the body, according to a study of 626 patients. Sixty-one percent of the African-American patients believed this, compared to only 29% of the white patients. This could explain why African-American lung cancer patients are less likely to have surgery.

Public affairs, African Americans, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Public opinion, Lung cancer, Lung surgery

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