The fibrinolytic activity of cerebrospinal fluid after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Fibrinolytic activity of cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood was studied in 14 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage during the high-risk period of subarachnoid rebleeding. Fibrinolytic activity of cerebrospinal fluid or peripheral blood could not be demonstrated. Determination of fibrin degradation products showed high levels in cerebrospinal fluid, being a result of meningeal irritation. The findings in this study--as well as other observations--suggest, that antifibrinolytic therapy should not be administered in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.