The Thromboplastic Activity of Human Saliva

¹ Department of Oral Surgery, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

The effect of saliva on blood-clotting time [see figure in the PDF FILE] was studied, and it was found that saliva decreases blood-clotting time. It was observed that the saliva-blood ratio was not critical in decreasing the clotting time.

Based on one-stage prothrombin, partial thromboplastin, and thromboplastin generation tests, it was found that mixed saliva and the pure secretions of parotid, submaxillary, and sublingual glands all have thromboplastic activity similar to that found in tissue thromboplastin.

Antihemophilic (VIII), Christmas (IX), Stuart (X), P.T.A., Hageman, and platelet-like activity appeared to be present in human saliva.

These results may have considerable clinical significance. In the first instance, demonstration of the presence of the different plasma thromboplastic factors in the saliva of normal persons may be of aid in developing diagnostic tests for patients with blood dyscrasias. Second, these studies should contribute substantially to an understanding of the conditions influencing the clotting of blood in the oral cavity.