title: Thrombin activation and increased fibrinolysis in patients with chronic liver disease.
abstract: The respective roles of intravascular coagulation (DIC) and fibrinolysis were assessed in severe chronic liver disease by measuring thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes, tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (tPA Ag) and fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products (FgDP and FbDP respectively) in 66 patients with liver disease caused by cirrhosis (n = 34) or chronic hepatitis (n = 32) as compared to findings in a control group (n = 30). There was a significant increase of TAT complexes (P less than 0.01), tPA Ag (P less than 0.002), FDP and FbDP (P less than 0.001) in patients as compared to controls. FbDP increase was more evident in patients with cirrhosis than in those with hepatitis (P less than 0.01). Significant correlations between these parameters with some liver function tests were also demonstrated. Thus, in patients with severe liver disease, an increased thrombin activity, as demonstrated by high TAT levels; followed by hyperfibrinolysis suggest that a low grade DIC may occur.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Service, University Clinic, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Páramo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rifón
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cuesta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000991:Antithrombins; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D013917:Thrombin; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D001663:Bilirubin