Fibrinogen metabolism and fibrinolytic activity in patients with amoebic liver abscess

Abstract

Fibrinogen metabolism was studied in 7 patients with amoebic liver abscess using 131 I fibrinogen and also in 6 control subjects. Fibrinolytic activity was also studied in these patients and in 10 normal subjects. There was no significant difference between the values of T1/2 and the fractional catabolic rate in the patients group (2.4 days and 41.8%/day) and those of the normal group (2.9 days and 35.6%/day). Since there was an increased plasma volume and plasma fibrinogen concentration in the patients, the absolute catabolic rate of fibrinogen was found to be grossly elevated in this group (87.6 mg/kg/day) in comparison with the normal group (28.6 mg/kg/day). These findings indicated that there was an increased consumption and production of fibrinogen in patients with amoebic liver abscess. Some patients showed thrombocytopaenia and prolongation of the clotting time which was assumed to be the result of liver tissue destruction. The low fibrinolytic activity (prolonged euglobulin lysis time and dilute clot lysis time) in some patients was probably due to a decreased plasminogen activator or low plasminogen level in the plasma.