Analysis of ADAMTS13 activity, antigen, and molecular forms in plasma of patients with sepsis-induced DIC. (A) ADAMTS13 activity and antigen levels in the plasma of patients with sepsis-induced DIC were determined as described in “Patients, materials and methods.” Samples (□) were subjected to immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting to investigate the cleavage of ADAMTS13, as described in “Patients, materials, and methods.” (B) Typical Western blot of degraded ADAMTS13 found in the patients' plasma indicated in panel A (□) is shown. Western blotting of ADAMTS13 antigen in normal pooled plasma (N) is shown as the control. ADAMTS13 molecules in normal plasma migrated at approximately 190 kDa.