Clinical Experience With Determination of Fibrinogen Degradation Products

Sera from 3 075 patients with various diseases and urine from 75 of them have been examined for fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) by the quantitative immunochemical method of Niléhn. Such products were found in serum in cancer (61%), chronic renal disease (37%), acute renal disease (78%), shock due to sepsis (100%) or postoperative bleedings (100%), acute stage of thromboembolism (72%) and in the acute stage of collagen diseases (38%). In patients with toxemia or hepatosis or other complications of pregnancy FDP were found in 61% and 81% respectively. FDP were found in the urine in almost the same frequency as in the serum in chronic renal disease (urine 39%, serum 37%) and in acute renal disease (urine 57%, serum 78%). FDP in serum were rarely found in liver diseases (< 25 %) and in the chronic stage of thromboembolism (3%). Uncomplicated hemorrhage did not seem to result in any FDP. These findings appear to warrant the conclusion that repeated demonstration of FDP by our method indicates the presence of some disease requiring further investigation, and secondly that the method might prove a useful diagnostic screening tool.