A Rapid Method for the Semiquantitative Determination of Fibrinogen and Fibrinogen Degradation Products (FDP) in Defibrination Syndrome

Summary

1. It was found that effects of deliberate changes in fibrinogen concentration and in the amount of FDP added to the experimental system (containing pure fibrinogen solution and saline- or serumdiluted plasma) could be approximated with satisfactory accuracy by a linear plot of the logarithm of clotting times versus the inverse of fibrinogen concentration.

By increasing FDP activity the slope of the obtained lines becomes proportionately steeper. The constants, which interrelate clotting time, fibrinogen concentration and FDP activity, are to be derived experimentally. The obtained formula is expressed also nomographically.

2. Apart from the presence of some very rare anticoagulants, an elongation of thrombin time observed under strictly specified conditions points to a substantial reduction of fibrinogen concentration and/or an interplay of fibrinogen degradation products.

If a definite amount of fibrinogen (Fibrinogen sec. Warner Chilcott) is admixed to a pathological plasma, thrombin time in the latter will decrease in a specifiable manner. By entering the original and corrected thrombin time values in the reported nomogram the fibrinogen content and FDP activity of the pathological plasma can be calculated.

3. The described procedure for fibrinogen and FDP assay is suitable first of all in acute defibrination syndrome and at the thrombolytic therapy. Its agreement with the results obtained by immunodiffusion was satisfactory as regards the fibrinogen in plasmas of different fibrinogen concentration.

• References

• 1 Copley A. L. Haemorheology. Pergamon Press; 1968
• 2 Fletcher A. P, Alkjaersig N, Sherry S. Pathogenesis of the coagulation defect developing during pathological plasma proteolytic (“fibrinolytic”) states. I. The significance of fibrinogen proteolysis and circulating fibrinogen breakdown products. J. clin. Invest 41: 896 1962;
• 3 Godai H. G, Abildgaard U. Gelation of soluble fibrin in plasma by ethanol. Scand. J. Haemat 09: 243 1966;
• 4 Hemker H. C, Fekkes N, Hensen A, Schrijver H, Loeliger E. A. Quantitation of circulating fibrinogen breakdown products in intravascular clotting. Thrombos. Diathes. haemorrh. (Stuttg.) Suppl 20: 227 1966;
• 5 Hemker H. G, Hemker P. W, Loeliger E. A. Kinetic aspects of the interaction of blood clotting enzymes. Thrombos. Diathes. haemorrh. (Stuttg.) IS: 155 1965;
• 6 Jâkô J, Sas G, Pddâr J. A fibrinogén mennyiségi meghatârozâsa géldiffusiôs môdszerrel. Quantitative determination of fibrinogen by gel diffusion. Hung. Rheum. Bain. Allerg 09: 165 1968;
• 7 Kazal L. A, Amsel S, Miller O. P, Tocantins L. M. The preparation and some properties of fibrinogen precipitated from human plasma by glycine. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N. Y.) 113: 989 1963;
• 8 Kowalski E. Fibrinogen derivates and their biologic activities. Semin. Hematol 05: 45 1968;
• 9 Lipinski B, Worowslci K. Detection of soluble fibrin monomer complexes in blood by means of protamin sulphate test. Thrombos. Diathes. haemorrh. (Stuttg.) 20: 44 1969;
• 10 Owren P. A. The coagulation of blood. Investigation on a new clotting factor. Acta med. scand 128 Suppl. 194 1947;
• 11 Sas G. Labordiagnostik des Defibrinationssyndroms. Haematologia (Budapest.) Suppl 01: 151 1970;
• 12 Sas G, Jdko J, Kelemen P, Blaskô G. y. The effect of fibrinmonomer on the thrombin time. Haematologia (Budapest). (To be published.)
• 13 Sas G, Kékes E. Adatok a defibrinâciös syndroma klinikumâhoz. Contribution to the clinical picture of defibrination syndrome. Hung. Magy. Belorv. Arch 22: 101 1969;