BLOOD FIBRINOLYTIC ACTIVITY IN DISEASES OF SMALL BLOOD VESSELS AND EFFECT OF LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DEXTRAN

SUMMARY.— Blood fibrinolytic activity was measured before and after an infusion of 1–3 litres of 10%, low molecular weight dextran (average M.W. 40,000) in 22 patients with peripheral vascular disease of the small vessel type associated with systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, idiopathic Raynaud's phenomenon and chilblains. Eighteen had a decreased blood fibrinolytic activity before the infusion. Blood fibrinolytic activity was measured 24–72 hr. after the infusion had been discontinued and was found to be considerably increased in 18 of the patients. In 10 patients who were further studied the fibrinolytic activity rose to a peak at the fifth to seventh weeks after the infusion, returning to the original level by the tenth to the twelfth week. There was no consistent change in blood fibrinolytic activity measured before and after an infusion of 0·9% sodium chloride in 9 other patients. The correlation of clinical improvement and blood fibrinolytic activity suggests that fibrinolysis played an important part in the diseases studied. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved