Fibrinogen catabolism in the surgically treated patient and in those with postoperative venous thrombosis. Correlation of plasma fibrinogen chromatographic findings with 125I-labeled fibrinogen scan findings.

Abstract

Abstract Patients undergoing operation were examined serially by plasma fibrinogen chromatography, a technique for quantifying the relative proportions and amounts of high molecular weight fibrin(ogen) complexes (HMWFC), native fibrinogen, and derivatives of fibrinogen smaller than the parent molecule in plasma. Ninety-two patients were followed preoperatively and at 1 hour, 1 day, and 5 days postoperatively. All patients received 125 I-labeled fibrinogen following operation, and isotopic leg scanning was performed daily for the first 5 postoperative days. The plasma of clinically well subjects contained an average of 7.2% or 20.3 mg/100 ml of plasma "fibrinogen" in HMWFC form, and values exceeding mean +2 S.D. of normal, 20% or 88 mg/100 ml HMWFC, were classed as abnormal. Preoperatively, 58% of the patients exhibited normal plasma fibrinogen chromatographic findings, but 42% showed abnormal plasma fibrinogen chromatographic findings (>20% HMWFC), an incidence differing significantly (p