Summary
Bleeder swine are characterized by a prolonged bleeding time, decreased factor VIII
levels or reduced platelet adhesiveness or both, and a factor VIII response to infusion
of plasma or serum similar to that described in von Willebrand’s disease. In this
study the factor VIII response of bleeder swine infused with fresh non-glass-contact
pig plasma was similar to that reported in previous experiments after infusion of
plasma that was frozen and stored for a variable period of time before use or was
not free of glass contact. There was no beneficial effect on platelet adhesiveness.
Following platelet concentrate infusion, there was no sustained normalization of platelet
adhesiveness, although elevations into the normal range occurred at varying intervals
after platelet infusion in two of three pigs investigated. Infusion of factor VIII-deficient
plasma from a canine hemophiliac elicited a factor VIII response similar to that described
in von Willebrand’s disease patients infused with plasma from factor VIII-deficient
human hemophiliacs. In none of these experiments was there any apparent correction
of the bleeding time.