Gelation of Soluble Fibrin in Plasma by Ethanol

Abstract

At room temperature, the thrombin time of plasma is markedly shortened by ethanol. This effect is restricted to the polymerisation phase. In contrast to other fibrinoplastic substances, such as dextran or calcium, ethanol causes rapid end‐to‐end aggregation of fibrin, producing translucent gels. Such gels are obtained with fibrin concentrations, otherwise soluble in plasma. Gelation by ethanol seems to be specific for fibrin and is favourized by a high fibrinogen concentration, whereas fibrinoplastic substances exert the opposite effect. The presented data indicate that the ‘ethanol test’ might be used for detection of soluble fibrin in circulating blood.