Analyses of whole blood coagulation activity
Coagulation activity of whole blood was measured every 15 min using a coagulation and platelet function analyser (Sonoclot) (Sienco, Morrison, CO) as previously described22. The Sonoclot signal typically describes coagulation parameters including activated clotting time (ACT), which indicates the period up to the start of fibrin formation, and clot rate, which indicates the slope of fibrin gel formation that is affected by both the fibrinogen to fibrin conversion and the amount of fibrinogen.