Plasmin Inhibitors and Fibrinogen Breakdown During the Initial Phase of Thrombolytic Treatment - The Problem of the α₂-Antiplasmin Determination

Summary

During the first 3 hr of thrombolytic treatment with porcine plasmin (p-PL) or streptokinase (SK) a rapid decrease of clottable fibrinogen with generation of large amounts of fibrin(-ogen) degradation products (FDP) are found. α₂-antiplasmin (α₂AP) is rapidly neutralized. Whereas in patients treated with SK more than half of the original plasminogen was consumed, its level remained unchanged during p-PL infusion. When α₂AP reaches values below some 20%, spontaneous amidolytic activity towards S-2251 representing either PL-α₂-macroglobulin- or SK-plasminogen-complex activity appears. This activity has to be considered in the α₂AP assay in order to avoid underestimation of this inhibitor.

Keywords

Thrombolytic treatment - α₂-antiplasmin assay - Plasminogen - Porcine plasmin - Streptokinase - Spontaneous amidolytic activity

• References

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