title: Fibrin and fibrinogen-related antigens in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)
abstract: Abnormalities in fibrin deposition are implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular occlusion in systemic sclerosis. We have used a technique that involves electrophoresis and densitometric analysis of captured fibrin- and fibrinogen-related antigens to measure the concentration of the individual fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products in 13 patients with systemic sclerosis and in 15 healthy control subjects. As a group, patients with systemic sclerosis had markedly elevated levels of total fibrin-related antigen (p = 0.0007) and D-dimer (p = 0.0004), the terminal degradation product of cross-linked fibrin. The levels of fibrin monomer, an intermediate product in the conversion of fibrinogen to cross-linked fibrin, and of D-monomer, a terminal breakdown fragment of fibrinogen and fibrin monomer, were also elevated (p less than 0.005). We conclude that patients with systemic sclerosis have evidence of enhanced fibrin formation and degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33101.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Falanga
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kruskal
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Franks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000276:immunology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; C011468:fibrinmonomer; C023456:fibrinogen-related antigen; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D005337:Fibrin