Fibrinolytic Activity in Hepatic Cirrhosis

Abstract

In 42 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, the individual components of the fibrinolytic system and the level of the degradation products of fibrinogen have been studied. The level of plasmin was found to be elevated in all the investigated groups and so was the plasma activator of plasminogen in active and decompensated cirrhosis. The degradation products of fibrinogen showed increases in 48% of inactive, in 80% of active and in 100% of decompensated cirrhosis. The changes in the values of plasminogen and antiplasmin were not significant.

Medical Haemostasis in Acute Hepatocyte Injury and Experimental Liver Trauma

“…In the anhepatic period during liver transplantation, hyperfibrinolysis and increased level of plasminogen activators have been shown 17 . Exogenous plasminogen activators are inactivated by the liver in 5−15 min 7 . If this function of the liver is disturbed, the levels of plasminogen activators and specific inhibitors rise together, and hyperfibrinolysis is seen as the major cause of bleeding 6 .…”

“…It has been shown by many investigators that reduced hepatic clearance of plasminogen activators in liver disease enhances fibrinolysis 4−6 . Hyperactivity of the fibrinolytic system has been demonstrated in the cirrhotic patients 7 . Hyperfibrinolysis appears more vigorously in acute hepatocellular disorders than in chronic liver diseases 4,5 .…”

“…Aprotinin, which is a serine protease inhibitor drug, can prevent fibrinolysis by inhibition of plasmin and thrombocyte aggregation 7−9 . It is used in many conditions to achieve haemostasis, especially in cardiopulmonary bypass operations.…”