PLASMA PLASMINOGEN LEVELS IN EARLY RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS SYNDROME

The serum plasminogen status in 35 preterm infants with or without res piratory distress syndrome (RDS) was determined in the first few hours of life. Blood smaples for plasminogen testing (Synthetic chromogenic substrate method; Stachorm PLG. Diagnostica Stage) were obtained from a peripheral vein within six hours after birth. Among 35 infants, 20 infants who were in stable clinical condition served as the control gr oup. Fifteen developed RDS with clinical, laboratory and radiological findings. The mean plasma plasminogen levels were found to be similar in the two groups (p > 0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test). These findings ar e discussed along with our previous findings showing normal tissue pla sminogen activator (tPA) but lower D-dimer and higher plasminogen acti vator inhibitor (PAI) levels within the first few hours of life in pre term infants who later developed RDS compared to the control group.