A rheological study of the kinetics of coagulation in normal and hemophilic blood plasma

Dynamic viscoelastic properties were determined during the progress of plasma coagulation using a Weissenberg Rheogoniometer. A simple kinetic model was employed to describe the network formation phase of coagulation following recalcification of normal plasma. Rheological data obtained with pathological plasma samples (with Factor VIII and Factor IX deficiencies) indicated a delay in the initiation of clot formation and a slower initial fibrin polymerization rate. The computed ‘rate constant’ gave significantly different values for normal and hemophilic plasma clotting systems. No change was found in the final maximum elastic modulus attained, indicating network formation, though slow, eventually was complete and the final structure was unaltered.