Clot waveform analysis extends the interpretation of aPTT measurement curves. The curve is mathematically processed to obtain information about fibrin formation kinetics including semiquantitative determination of thrombin, prothrombinase and tenase activity.
Patients, method: In this study the feasibility of clot waveform analysis for monitoring of haemophilia A was investigated using blood samples from healthy controls as well as haemophilia A patients under various clinical conditions.
Results: Thrombin, prothrombinase and tenase activity show a high correlation to factor VIII levels. Tenase activity was found to exhibit a linear relationship to factor VIII levels over a very large concentration range and was able to discriminate patients with severe, moderate and mild haemophilia.
Conclusion: Clot waveform analysis is an easy, fast and cheap method to access disturbances in clot formation and can be done without any additional measurements beside an aPTT.
Keywords: Activated partial thromboplastin time; fibrin formation kinetics; haemophilia; prothrombinase; tenase; thrombin.