Participation of kallikrein, coagulation/fibrinolysis parameters in the development of glomerulonephritis.

Masugi nephritis was induced in dogs in which platelet count, fibrinogen, antithrombin activity, plasma prekallikrein and immediate plasmin inhibitors were coincidentally decreased immediately after the injection of nephrotoxin serum. It was found that the grade of decrease of urinary kallikrein excretion following these immediate reactions were parallel with the grade of renal damages. By the pretreatment with heparin or the defibrination with snake venom, however, the histological findings of Masugi nephritis showed rather severe damage. Based on the consumption of coagulation factors, kallikrein, kinin and their inhibitors in the development of this nephritis, it was postulated that inauguration of coagulation and activation of kallikrein contributed to the development of glomerulonephritis. The treatment or prevention of this coagulation process with heparin or snake venom, however, gave untoward effects on the pathological process in this experiment.