Summary
The occurrence of spontaneous fibrinolysis has been investigated in various medical
diseases, e. g. myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, phlebothrombosis, pulmonary
embolism, metastasing cancer, and others. Serum from patients has been tested for
fibrinolytic break-down products by use of immunodiffusion and Immunoelectrophoresis
with double-diffusion. It was anticipated that positive results might provide useful
diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic information, particularly in patients with
myocardial infarction. However, there is no apparent correlation between the occurrence
of spontaneous fibrinolysis and the course of disease.
In patients with haemorrhagic diathesis the tests give useful information, but in
the remaining groups tested, the significance of occurring fibrinolytic break-down
products cannot yet be evaluated.
