ROLE OF CLOTTING FACTOR(S) IN THE ETIOLOGY OF LUNG-DISEASE RELATED TO CILIOSTASIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (4) , 239-246
Abstract
Mucociliary experiments conducted in vitro using avian [chicken and pigeon] tracheal rings show that serum from normal and cystic fibrosis patients will cause ciliostatsis in airways. Endogenous mucus is not inhibitory to cilia. Inhibition with serum is due to blood clotting factors (probably fibrin), since a variety of anticoagulants and fibrin-destroying substances will prevent or reverse the inhibitory effects of serum. Because fibrin and serum are normally found in the lung, an early event in the pathogenesis of many lung diseases (e.g., asthma, some forms of emphysema, cystic fibrosis), is an increase in the level of clotting factors in the respiratory tract. A rationale for investigating the usefulness of a number of pharmacologic agents in the treatment of diseases related to mucostasis is provided.

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