Fibrinolysis is of paramount importance in maintaining or regaining the patency of
veins and pulmonary arteries obstructed by thrombi. Growing experimental and clinical
evidence indicates that impaired fibrinolysis mediated by multiple complex mechanisms
is involved in venous thromboembolism (VTE). Global plasma fibrin clot lysis markers,
especially clot lysis time, have been reported to predict recurrent deep-vein thrombosis
and pulmonary embolism. The current overview summarizes available data linking fibrinolysis
to VTE and its long-term sequelae.
Keywords
anticoagulation - fibrin - fibrinolysis - recurrence - venous thromboembolism