FIBRINOGEN TURNOVER AFTER MASSIVE HAEMORRHAGE IN HEPARINIZED DOGS

The effect of heparin on fibrinogen turnover after a massive haemorrhage was studied in dogs by using radioactively labelled fibrinogen. The data were compared both to those obtained before haemorrhage and to those obtained after a haemorrhage of the same magnitude in non-heparinized dogs. It was found that both the catabolic rate and the anabolic rate of fibrinogen increased significantly after haemorrhage in heparinized dogs, when compared to preexperimental conditions. The increase in catabolic rate was, however, signifi-cantly less than found after haemorrhage in non-heparinized dogs. The increase in anabolic rate was the same in both groups of dogs. An increased fibrinolytic activity was seen in both groups of dogs. It is concluded that the increased fibrinogen catabolism after a massive haemorrhage is partly due to a coagulation process and partly to fibrinolysis. The increased fibrinogen anabolism is not only a consequence of increased fibrinogen catabolism, but also of the haemorrhage as such. © 1969 S. Karger AG, Basel.