LOW FIBRINOLYTIC ACTIVITY IN THE WALLS OF VEINS IN PATIENTS WITH THROMBOSIS

Abstract

Abstract The fibrinolytic activity of biopsy specimens of veins from 58 patients with superficial thrombophlebitis and/or deep venous thrombosis of the limbs, from nine healthy volunteers and from ten patients about to undergo biliary surgery has been studied by a modification of the “fibrinolysis autography technique” of Todd. The findings appeared to warrant the following conclusions. 1 The fibrinolytic activity of unaffected veins in the legs of patients with thrombosis and thrombophlebitis is significantly lower than that of veins in normals. 1 In veins occluded by compact thrombi the fibrinolytic activity is negligible, but reappears when the thrombi become canalized. It appears that low fibrinolytic activity of the vessel walls predisposes to thrombosis.