Summary
Factors I, II, V, VII-complex, X, fibrinogen-split products and fibrinolysis were
assayed in 42 transsudates, 69 exsudates and simultaneously in the blood of the respective
patients.
The vitamin K dependent factors II, VII-complex and X were present in all extravascular
specimens; factors V and clottable fibrinogen only in the majority of exsudates and
the minority of transsudates. Fibrinogen-split products were found in most specimens
even though the simultaneously tested serum of the respective patients was free of
them. The collected quantitative data indicate that all clotting factors enter the
extravascular space in direct proportion to their concentration in plasma and to the
protein content of the extravascular fluid. Local extravascular lysis accounts for
the low values of clottable fibrinogen and factor V and for the presence of fibrinogen
split products. It is possible that the physiologic catabolism of these factors is
mainly extravascular.
