Molecular Aspects of Defibrination in a Case of Amniotic Fluid Embolism

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Abstract
A decrease of fibrinogen and other coagulation factors is often observed in coagulation disorders in obstetrics, and this observation led to the term defibrination. Estimation and characterization of derivatives of fibrinogen and fibrin, considering those with a higher and those with a lower molecular weight than the parent molecule, may be of value in clarifying the pathogenesis of the coagulation disorder. The data concerning molecular weight distribution pattern and physicochemical properties of these derivatives in a case of probable amniotic fluid embolism are presented. It was concluded that intravascular polymerization and crosslinking of fibrin were followed by extensive fibrinolysis and fibrinogenolysis in the case presented.