Polymerization and dissolution of fibrin under homogeneous magnetic fields

We investigated whether or not a mutually compensating state of coagulation and fibrinolysis is changed by homogeneous magnetic fields. We used a supe rconducting magnet which produced magnetic fields of up to 14 T at its cent er. Fibrin polymerization over time, and the subsequent dissolution of the fibrin fiber network, were observed by measuring the optical absorbance of the mixture at 350 nm. A spectrophotometer with an external optical cell bo x in a superconducting magnet was used. We observed that the optical absorb ance of the mixture at 350 nm increased during the fibrin-polymerization pr ocess, and decreased during the fibrinolytic processes. The optical absorba nce was stable in the transient state between fibrin-polymerization and fib rinolytic processes. A magnetic field of 14 T increased the rate of the pol ymerization process by 55%-70% compared to the control group. On the other hand, the rate of the fibrinolytic process under a magnetic field at 14 T, increased by 27%-140% compared to the control. The results indicate that th e magnetic orientation of fibrin fibers accelerated both the polymerization and the dissolution of fibrin fibers. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physi cs. [S0021-8979(98)38811-8].