PROTHROMBIN, PLASMINOGEN AND FIBRINOGEN LEVELS IN NEWBORN

  • 1 January 1975
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (DEC) , 56-62
Abstract
The esterase activity of thrombin and plasmin on artificial substrates was used to study the kinetics of these enzymes by Lineweaver and Burk''s method. In the plasma of new-born infants, plasmin obtained from streptokinase had an activity comparable to that of adults. Thrombin was obtained by the action of staphylocoagulase and taipan venom. There were individual variations and it differed from that of adults. An inhibitor was present both in the plasma and in the serum of the new-born. Fibrinogen was studied by variations in absorption of light during coagulation by thrombin. The abnormalities observed depend on the physical and clinical conditions of the medium (pH, osmolality). These characteristics depend on the age of the infant, but also seem to depend on the conditions of the sample and, in particular, on fibrinolytic reactions. The existence of fetal fibrinogen is discussed.