Plasminogen activator and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products at conization of the uterine cervix.

In women undergoing conization of the uterine cervix, peripheral blood samples and blood samples from the cone cavity were obtained and analysed for their concentration of plasminogen activator of tissue type (t-PA) and of urokinase type (u-PA) and the concentration of fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP). A significant increase was found for t-PA (p less than 0.002) and u-PA (p less than 0.0002) as well as for FDP (p less than 0.002) in blood from the cone cavity compared with peripheral blood. The finding of increased liberation of plasminogen activators strengthens the rationale for administration of synthetic inhibitors of fibrinolysis to reduce the frequency of bleeding complications at conization.