Thrombin clotting time and fibrin polymerization in liver cirrhosis.

The thrombin clotting time and the fibrin polymerization test were performed in 64 patients with liver cirrhosis. Each test was made with thrombin diluted with 150 mmol/l sodium chloride and 25 mmol/l calcium chloride. The thrombin-in-NaCl clotting time was found to be prolonged in 39% of cirrhotic patients, whereas fibrin polymerization was defective in 65% of them. Dilution of thrombin with calcium chloride diminished the number of abnormal results of both tests in patients with liver cirrhosis. Among the performed tests most sensitive test proved to be the polymerization of fibrin induced by thrombin diluted with sodium chloride.