Summary
The following tests were performed in 305 persons with one or other of the following
conditions: malignant disease, postoperative complications, sepsis or multiple fractures,
liver disease, pregnancy, the puerperium, renal disease, dysproteinaemia and different
blood disorders : 1. fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) with Niléhn’s immunochemical
method; 2. the thrombin time; 3. the Reptilase time; 4. the ethanol gelation test;
5. the protamine sulphate precipitation test. It was found that a prolonged thrombin
time or Reptilase time in a given case was not necessarily a sign of the presence
of FDP. Thus, neither determination of the thrombin time nor of the Reptilase time
can substitute for specific determination of FDP. A positive ethanol gelation test
was found in only 5 out of 17 patients with a low platelet count, low P & P test,
low factor V, low fibrinogen and clinical signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation
such as shock, disturbance of the periphery circulation, oliguria or anuria. No association
was found between a positive ethanol gelation test and the presence of FDP. The protamine
sulphate precipitation test was positive in only one of the 305 patients.
