Effect of Erythrocyte Density on Blood Clot Properties in Healthy Individuals and in Patients with Hemophilia A

Abstract

We measured specific volume and hematocrit of blood clots prepared from the whole blood of patients with hemophilia A and healthy male volunteers. It was shown that in the hematocrit range of 43.5-52.5%, specific volume of the blood clot in hemophilia patients with low level of factor VIII (1-4%) was higher than in volunteers. After injection of factor VIII, specific volume of blood clots in hemophilia patients decreased. Hematocrit of the blood clots derived from the whole blood linearly depended on the mean erythrocyte density in both volunteers (r=-0.74, p=0.01) and patients with factor VIII level of 1-4% (r=-0.95, p<0.0001). The increase in the mean erythrocyte density led to a decrease in blood clot hematocrit. The curve describing blood clot hematocrit as a function of the mean erythrocyte density in hemophilia patients was lower than in healthy volunteers. The increase in factor VIII level was associated with an increase in blood clot hematocrit. The results showed that blood clot hematocrit depends on the mean erythrocyte density, and therefore, hematocrit of the blood clot can be changed by modulating the properties of erythrocyte population.