PLASMINOGEN IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

Background: We studied the plasminogen concentration in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis in order to assess its synthesis in the live r and establish correlations with other routine parameters such as the albumin level and prothrombin time. Material and methods: Plasminogen was determined by radial immunodiffusion, albumin by nephelometry and the prothrombin time by Quick's method. The study involved 40 healthy volunteers and 80 patients diagnosed as having alcoholic liver cirrho sis. Histopathological confirmation was archieved in 56 patients, whil e in the remainder it was based on other instrumental methods and clin ical and laboratory findings. Results: The plasminogen level was lower in patients with liver cirrhosis (7.8 +/- 0.3 mg/dl) than in healthy controls (11.7 +/- 0.6 mg/dl). According to the Child-Pugh classificat ion, the concentration in class A was 9.0 +/- 0.3 mg/dl, in class B it was 7.3 +/- 0.4 mg/dl and in class C it was 6.1 +/- 0.2 mg/dl. The di fferences between the groups were statistically significant. Conclusio n: The plasminogen level is of diagnostic value in the assessment of l iver function and correlates well with the albumin concentration and t he prothrombin time.