Estimation and characterization of soluble fibrin monomer complexes during endotoxin-induced intravascular coagulation.

This study is concerned with thrombin-mediated intravascularly occurring changes in the fibrinogen molecule in rabbits that developed generalized intravascular coagulation after two endotoxin injections spaced 24 hours apart. Intravascular coagulation was evidenced by glomerular fibrin deposition. 24 hours after the first endotoxin injection an increase in the concentration of soluble fibrin monomer complexes indicated intravascular activation of the coagulation system. The second endotoxin injection was followed by a decrease in fibrinogen concentration and an increase in soluble fibrin monomer complexes in relation to the total fibrinogen content. Characterization of the soluble fibrin monomer complexes revealed that they were to a larger extent not dissociable in SDS and urea, and that they contained α-dimers. This indicates that circulating crosslinked fibrin oligomers were present.