Specific identification of fibrin polymers, fibrinogen degradation
products, and crosslinked fibrin degradation products in plasma and serum
with a new sensitive technique
DG Connaghan, CW Francis, DA Lane and VJ Marder
A new method is described for identifying low concentrations of circulating
derivatives of fibrinogen and fibrin, even when present in heterogeneous
mixtures. This technique is applicable to plasma and serum and uses
electrophoresis in 2% agarose in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate
(SDS) followed by immunological identification of separated derivatives,
using radiolabeled antifibrinogen antiserum and autoradiography. Unique
electrophoretic patterns distinguish plasmic derivatives of crosslinked
fibrin from those of fibrinogen and also identify crosslinked fibrin
polymers produced by the combined action of thrombin and factor XIII on
fibrinogen. The assay is sensitive to a concentration of 0.1 micrograms/mL
of fibrinogen in serum or plasma. Fibrin polymers, plasmic degradation
products of fibrinogen, and plasmic degradation products of crosslinked
fibrin were detected in the plasma or serum of a patient with disseminated
intravascular coagulation. Plasmic derivatives of both fibrinogen and
crosslinked fibrin appeared in serum in the course of fibrinolytic therapy
for pulmonary embolism, whereas during acute myocardial infarction a marked
increase in the proportion of fibrin polymers in plasma was found in
comparison with normal controls. Thus, the procedure can distinguish
between the simultaneous processes of fibrin polymer formation,
fibrinogenolysis, and fibrinolysis, and is sufficiently sensitive to detect
relevant quantities of derivatives in pathologic conditions.
Volume 65,
Issue 3,
pp. 589-597,
03/01/1985
Copyright © 1985 by The American Society of Hematology
