Salt Concentration and Fibrinolytic Activity

Abstract

THE observation of gross spontaneous lysis in pathological states presents little difficulty, so long as there is some fibrinogen left to form an observable clot; but there is still no satisfactory method of assessing the normal blood fibrinolytic activity. The different test systems all disturb the balance of the fibrinolytic system, for example, by dilution, fractionation or introduction of abnormal clotting systems or change of pH. It is still debatable whether any method even approaches the state of affairs in a normal vessel, still less that in a thrombotic case where deposition of fibrin probably leads to local absorption of fibrinolytic components so that active enzyme is produced locally and clot lysis facilitated. This latter aspect is not directly approachable by in vitro methods; but it draws its reactants from the circulating blood, though in injury or anoxia tissue factors are also important, and so one aspect of the body's ability to deal with a clot is reflected in the blood fibrinolytic activity.