Dade® Fibrinogen Determination Reagents

and Explanation Depressed fibrinogen levels are found in a) acquired hypofibrinogenemia or afibrinogenemia Acquired fibrinogen deficient conditions occur especially as a result of intravascular proteolysis of fibrinogen by thrombin (consumption coagulopathy e.g. in obstetrics, following surgical intervention), snake venom or plasmin (primary hyperfibrinolysis following therapy with streptokinase, urokinase or tPA). Moreover, moderate hypofibrinogenemias can occur in the case of reduced production (in acute or chronic liver diseases), loss of intravascular volume (e.g. with ascites or acute bleeding as well as with erythemas) or in the case of increased breakdown (with shock or carcinomas). b) congenital hypofibrinogenemia and afibrinogenemia. Temporarily elevated fibrinogen levels are found as a result of fibrinogen responding as an "acute phase protein": a) Transitory hyperfibrinogenemias may occur following surgery, trauma, heart attack and infections1. b) Longer lasting hyperfibrinogenemias may be detected in neoplasias and chronic inflammatory illnesses. A slight increase in the level of fibrinogen is observed with increase in age. Elevated fibrinogen levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease2.