Shear Degradation of Fibrinogen in the Circulation

Abstract

Plasma fibrinogen in vitro suffers a loss in clottability due to shearing. From calculation of the mass average shear to which plasma is subjected in the circulation, it is estimated that the half-life of fibrinogen is 4 days. This is in excellent agreement with reports that the half-life of fibrinogen in the circulatory system is 4 to 5 days. Hence shearing may be the mechanism for fibrinogen degradation in the circulatory system.