Impaired fibrinolysis in patients with thrombotic or haemostatic defects
Sloan, I.G.; Firkin, B.G.
Thrombosis Research 55(5): 559-567
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0049-3848 PMID: 2814943 Document Number: 336313
In a retrospective study of the 47 patients examined for thrombotic defects, 34 had prolonged euglobulin lysis times (ELT) with 27 of these also having elevated tissue-plasminogen activator inhibitor (t-PAI) activity. Twenty three of the 57 patients examined for possible bleeding problems had prolonged ELT with 15 of this group also having raised levels of t-PAI. There was a statistically greater (P < 0.005) incidence of elevated t-PAI in the thrombotic group. The incidence of 40% patients with prolonged ELT in the haemostasis group was surprising and perhaps represents some compensatory mechanism to combat bleeding. Thus in vitro tests showed that a reduced capacity for fibrinolysis was present in diametrically opposed groups.