Fibrinopeptide A, beta-thromboglobulin, and fibrin degradation products as screening test for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.

Abstract

In a group of 111 consecutive patients (mean age 65 years) with suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) phlebography demonstrated DVT in 51. In all patients blood tests for fibrinopeptide A (FPA), fibrin degradation products (FDP) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-Tg) were carried out. There was a significant difference in FPA concentration between the group of patients with a positive and a negative phlebography. However, there was a wide variation of individual values in both groups. The difference in FPA concentration between the groups was not related to differences in predisposing diseases, age or sex. FDP and beta-Tg did not differ between the groups and, again, a wide variation of individual values was found in both groups. In our hands, none of these three methods reflecting activities in the hemostasis seems to be useful to diagnose DVT in clinical routine work.