Abstract: This invention pertains to a method of detecting, in a sample obtained from an individual, anti-heparin antibodies which inhibit the formation of the heparin accelerated antithrombin III-thrombin complex. In the present method, the presence of such anti-heparin antibodies are detected directly (by detecting the presence of anti-heparin antibodies themselves) or indirectly (by detecting the presence or formation of the heparin accelerated antithrombin III-thrombin complex). In one embodiment of the present method, antibodies which react with or interfere with the heparin pentasaccharide which binds antithrombin III in such a manner that binding to antithrombin III is inhibited are detected. In a specific embodiment of the present method, the anti-heparin antibody detected is one which reacts with or interferes with the disaccharide UA-2S/GlcNs-6 present in residues IV and V of the heparin pentasaccharide that binds antithrombin III.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for detecting, identifying and quantifying enzymes, for example, human proteolytic enzymes. The method broadly comprises forming an immobilized or insoluble complex comprising enzyme, enzyme inhibitor and enzyme inhibitor-antibody reactive site and then detecting and identifying, preferably quantitatively, one or more enzymes bound to the complex, or one or more inhibitor antibodies bound to the complex to indirectly detect one or more bound enzyme.In a preferred embodiment, a matrix, e.g. solid or semisolid surface or permeable matrix, has affixed thereto enzyme inhibitor-antibody or an immonologically active (inhibitor binding) fragment of such an antibody. This insoluble enzyme inhibitor interacting matrix is then contacted withThe invention described herein was at least in part made in the course of work under a grant or award from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (Grant No. HL 18828, Department of Health & Human Services).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for determining fibrinolytic activation in human blood and to a method to distinguish between tissue (e.g. vascular) plasminogen activator and urokinase-like plasminogen activator contributions to fibrinolytic activation.Broadly, the method of the invention relates to detecting the level of plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complexes in blood plasma samples before and after clotting thereof; a greater increase in the complex level in the clotted sample as compared to non-clotted samples indicating the presence of circulating tissue plasminogen activator, with substantially identical levels of increase of complex in both the clotted and unclotted samples indicating the sole presence of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in the sample.