Significance of plasma fibrinopeptide A and high molecular weight fibrinogen in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Plasma fibrinopeptide A (FPA) was measured in 50 patients with liver cirrhosis divided into 'moderate' or 'severe' cirrhotics according to standard clinical and laboratory criteria. FPA was significantly higher than in normal controls although no relation to the severity of disease was found. After a single intravenous administration of heparin there was a significant decrease in FPA levels in the patients. High molecular weight fibrinogen (HMWF) was also determined for some of the patients and was significantly greater than in the normal controls. However, there was no correlation between FPA and HMWF. The greater values of FPA and their responses to heparin indicate that there is increased thrombin formation in a number of patients with liver cirrhosis, with no apparent relation to the severity of the disease.