Severe Fletcher factor (plasma prekallikrein) deficiency with partial deficiency of Hageman factor (factor XII): report of a case with observation on in vivo and in vitro leukocyte chemotaxis.

A case of cross-reacting material-negative Fletcher trait with additional partial deficiency of Hageman factor (HF, Factor XII) is described. Although the patient presented with a recent history of frequent epistaxis, he had no other personal or family history of a tendency toward bleeding or infection. Similar to other cases of Fletcher trait, his plasma showed a markedly prolonged partial thromboplastin time which could be corrected by prolonged incubation with the surface-activator kaolin. Surface-induced fibrinolysis, amidolysis of alpha-N-benzoyl-proline-L-phenylalanine-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide, and cold-promoted enhancement of factor VII activity, reactions requiring the presence in the plasma of fletcher factor (prekallikrein), in addition to Hageman factor and Fitzgerald factor (high-molecular weight kininogen), were also defective. In vivo chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes (Rebuck's skin window technique) in response to skin abrasions was defective, but was normal when diphtheria-tetanus toxoid was also applied. In vitro leukocyte chemotaxis (Boyden chamber technique) in response to normal or patient's own serum activated with zymosan was normal. Together with previous observations that kallikrein generated chemotactic activity, possibly via activation of C5, the present observations suggest that prekallikrein activation may be important for in vivo leukocyte chemotactic response to skin abrasion. The inheritance of Fletcher trait in this patient is unclear.l Although the father was an apparent heterozygote, the mother was completely normal for Fletcher factor procoagulant activity and antigen. The mild Hageman factor deficiency in the patient did not contribute significantly to the plasma defects described and was likely inherited from the father who had a low HF procoagulant activity.