IDENTIFICATION OF A FIBRINOLYTIC DEFECT IN TWO FAMILIES WITH A TENDENCY TO THROMBOSIS

Abstract

We identified two families in whom one member each suffered from deep venous thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary emboli at the age of 15 and 17. We were able to investigate several members of both families with regard to their fibrinolytic system. Blood sampling was done before and after ten minutes of venous occlusion. Parameters measured were euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, t-PA concentration and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity, besides several other constituents of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system commonly associated with thrombophilia.In the first family six persons could be evaluated. A prolonged ECLT was found in four probands. Three of them had no measurable t-PA activity after stasis, t-PA concentration after stasis was below the normal range in two and borderline in one of them.In the second family 13 members could be invest-gated. Three adults were found to have a prolonged ECLT. Two of these had very low t-PA activity after stasis, with normal increase in t-PA antigen. Their PAI was increased above the normal range. Six children showed no measurable PAI and increased levels of t-PA activity before stasis. After stasis four children had a prolonged ECLT. Two of them had low t-PA antigen levels, while all of them showed normal t-PA activity increases.These findings suggest, that there may be hereditary defects related to activators and inhibitors of the fibrinolytic system in the investigated families. These could possibly be responsible for the occurence of venous thrombosis early in life. However, results in the second family show that not all of the prolonged ECLT values can be explained by changes of t-PA and PAI.