Chromogenic methods in coagulation diagnostics.

Chromogenic peptide substrates were developed more than 30 years ago. Although the use of chromogenic substrate methods in coagulation and fibrinolysis diagnostics was not as rapidly implemented as initially believed, they are now well established for several analytes such as antithrombin, FVIII, protein C, plasminogen, plasmin inhibitor, heparins, and pentasaccharides. The advent of direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors has stimulated the development of new, specific chromogenic methods and these may find their way into routine use if these new drug candidates will prove to be valid replacements for coumarin derivatives. A large number of chromogenic research methods for other analytes were developed, too. The current interest in global chromogenic methods for thrombin generation and the protein C pathway may turn out as clinically important and thus enter into routine use.