Summary
Sixteen patients with acute onset subarachnoid hemorrhage were treated with intravenous
administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid. This drug inhibits activation of plasminogen
and, to some extent, the effect of plasmin as well. In this study a marked decrease
in immunological quantities of plasminogen was observed. This depletion of plasminogen
occurred without concommitant quantitative changes in platelets or fibrinogen. Hence,
the antiftbrinolytic effect of epsilon-aminocaproic acid is not only through inhibition
of plasminogen activation and of plasmin itself, but also through a marked reduction
in plasminogen.
