title: Fibrin(ogen)olysis in polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis: preliminary findings on association with disease activity.
abstract: Postulating an increased production of fibrin(ogen)olytic degradation products (FDP) and an abnormality of fibrinogen metabolism in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and temporal arteritis (TA), we studied 16 PMR/TA patients and 10 control subjects using a sensitive radioimmunoassay for a specific type of FDP, namely, fibrin(ogen)-related D-antigen. Median serum D-antigen levels were increased five-fold in those 11 PMR/TA patients who were untreated compared with control subjects. In the five PMR/TA patients who were treated with prednisone the median D-antigen levels were not significantly different from those of the healthy controls. D-antigen concentration correlated significantly (r = 0.83) with ESR in the seven untreated PMR patients. In PMR patients prednisone therapy was followed by a reduction of serum D-antigen levels.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000276:immunology; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; C023456:fibrinogen-related antigen; D011241:Prednisone