The Occurrence of Antifibrinolytic Properties in the Blood of Patients with Acute Hemolytic Streptococcus Infections.

The rapid dissolution of human fibrin clot by Streptococcus hemolyticus of the beta type is dependent upon the presence in cultures of an enzymic substance which is excreted by the organisms (1, 2). The bacterial product, which induces fibrinolysis, is characteristically elaborated by strains of hemolytic streptococci which cause acute infection in patients. Furthermore, the cultures, obtained from patients suffering with very severe types of illness, have been found to exhibit, with greatest frequency, the most potent fibrinolytic activity (3). It has also been demonstrated that patients convalescent from acute infection due to hemolytic streptococci often develop a humoral property which is effectively antagonistic to the fibrin dissolving action of cultures of the infecting organisms (4).