The effect of an acute phase reaction and BCG innoculation on factor VIII in the guinea-pig.

Factor VIII antigen (VIII:Ag) and vWF:Antigen (vWF:Ag) were measured in guinea-pigs treated with intraperitoneal turpentine to induce an acute phase reaction, and with BCG to stimulate the reticulo-endothelial system. In the turpentine treated animals there was a significant rise of fibrinogen at 24 and 48 hours after injection (1.43 +/- 0.01 g/l) when compared with controls (1.15 +/- 0.1 g/l), mean +/- SEM n = 3 p 0.01). There was no change in plasma VIII:Ag but a significant rise of vWF:Ag at (2.0 +/- .3 units/ml) when compared with controls (1.1 +/- 0.05 units/ml, mean +/- SEM n = 3 p less than 0.001). Examination of perfused guinea-pig organs showed a reduction in hepatic VIII:Ag (82%) and vWF:Ag (90%) and a 76% increase in splenic vWF:Ag only in the turpentine treated animals. Distribution of 125I Albumin to detect trapped blood in tissues demonstrated efficient clearance of blood by perfusion. There was no change in the plasma concentration of either VIII:Ag or vWF:Ag following BCG inoculation but there was a 45% increase in the splenic concentration of vWF:Ag. It is concluded that only the factor vWF:Ag and not the factor VIII:Ag component of the factor VIII complex is an acute phase reactant in guinea-pig and that this may be due to increased synthesis of vWF:Ag by vascular endothelium in the spleen. Although BCG inoculation may have stimulated synthesis or storage of vWF:Ag in the spleen it did not have an appreciable effect on the plasma concentration of either VIII:Ag or vWF:Ag.