The effect of ellagic acid on coagulation in vivo.

By ANTONIo Gu oLA 1I, Do 1ENIco AG0sTIN0 AND EUGENE E. CLIFFTON T HROMBOSIS and embolism remain a most important factor in morbidity and mortality, particularly of hospitalized patients, despite all forms of treatment. A tendency to increased thrombosis has been reported in patients with cancer,13 myocardial infarction,4 atherosclerosis,5 pregnancy and puerpuerium,#{176}’T in postoperative or posttraumatic states,7’8 and in patients receiving ACTH and cortisone.9 Tests for the tendency to thrombosis have been reported’t 4 but apparently have not been of much value, since none are in general use. Investigations of the hypercoagulable state and increased tendency to thrombosis have involved studies of the effect of serum15’8 lipids and soaps,1921 thrombin and thromboplastic substances,2227 toxins and some chemicals, including celite and tannic acid derivatives.28 All substances which increase thrombosis also tend to cause hypercoagulability with secondary alterations in fibrinogen and other coagulation factors. Ellagic acid has recently been reported to have an effect in vivo. It was reported to cause a shortening of the glass and silicone clotting time, a decrease in serum prothrombin activity ( with increased prothrombin consumption ) , a shortening of partial thromboplastin time, and an acceleration of the thromboplastin generation test.32 It has been suggested that ellagic acid induces hypercoagulability in vivo by activation of the Hageman factor.31’ 2 The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ellagic acid in the dog and in other species of animals.