In vitro effects of ulinastatin on blood coagulation using thromboelastography

Aim. The effects of ulinastatin, urinary trypsin inhibitor, on coagulation are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the in vitro effects of ulinastatin on coagulation using modified computerised thromboelastography (ROTEM (R)) with InTEM (R). Methods. A venous blood sample was obtained from the antecubital vein without stasis from 12 healthy adult men. A 290 mu L, aliquot of blood was combined with either 10 mu L of ulinastatin (100 [U100], 200 [U200] or 1000 [U1000] U/mL) or 10 mu L of normal saline. The samples were analysed simultaneously at 37 degrees C on a four channel ROTEM (R) with InTEM (R). Results. Clotting time was significantly increased in the U200 (155.8 +/- 9.3 s) and U 1000(173.6 +/- 14.5 s) groups, compared with the control group (136.1 +/- 12.6 s). The U 1000 group significantly increased clot formation time (77.6 +/- 16.2 s; control group, 63.8 +/- 13.4 s) and significantly decreased a angle (74.6 +/- 3.3 degrees; control group, 77.4 +/- 2.4 degrees). No significant difference in maximum clot firmness or maximum lysis was found between the control and ulinastatin groups. Conclusion. In-vitro ulinastatin had a direct anticoagulant effects, as assessed by ROTEM with InTEM (R), and the results were within the normal ranges.