High Fibrinogen Concentrations and a Positive Ethanol Gelation Test

Abstract

In patients with a positive ethanol gelation test other findings indicating consumption coagulopathy was more frequently demonstrated than in patients with a negative test. Furthermore, high fibrinogen levels were closely associated with a positive test, even, when all the other parameters studied were normal.To see if high concentrations of fibrinogen alone produced gelation with ethanol fibrinogen was administered intravenously to rabbit. During infusion of highly purified fibrinogen, the test remained negative even at fibrinogen levels above 1500mg%. If the fibrinogen was treated with traces of thrombin prior to infusion, the ethanol test became positive at fibrinogen values about 500 mg%. Thus, soluble fibrin is necessary to give a positive ethanol test even at high fibrinogen levels. This was also supported by in vitro studies.