Distinction between fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products in plasma.

Polyacrylamide (PA) gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) has been shown to distinguish between the major components in the plasmin induced lysates of purified crosslinked fibrin and fibrinogen. The D dimer fragment from crosslinked fibrin separated on SDS-PA gels from the fibrinogen fragments X, Y, Dg and E. Follwing immuno-absorption of plasmin induced lysates of plasma clots, plasma fibrinogen, and mixtures of both, the major fragments of fibrinogen and fibrin were capable of being discriminated by SDS-PA gel electrophoresis. The presence of D dimer in patient plasma suggested the efficacy of heparin in the management of haemorrhage associated with amniotic fluid embolism.