[Fibrinolysis in chronic liver diseases studied by in vitro blood coagulation tests].

A simple and easily reproducible in vitro clot lysis test less frequently indicated increased rate of fibrinolysis in chronic hepatic disease than expected. In hepatic cirrhosis clot lysis slows down as the condition deteriorates or as the plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor increases, thus the test may have certain prognostic value. The present observations suggest that the occasional acceleration of fibrinolysis in cirrhosis may be related to either increased production or decreased clearance of tPA, and is not due to impaired fibrinolysis inhibitor system.