Plasma thrombomodulin and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex are elevated in active systemic lupus erythematosus.

Plasma levels of thrombomodulin and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex were measured by ELISA in patients with rheumatic diseases. Thrombomodulin levels in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were significantly higher than those in patients with inactive SLE or in healthy controls. This suggests that thrombomodulin, normally a component of vascular endothelial cell membrane, is easily released to plasma in patients with active SLE. High titers of the thrombomodulin level and the correlated alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex elevations imply vascular injury, and consequently, excessive fibrinolytic processes in active SLE.