Plasma histidine-rich glycoprotein and plasminogen in patients with liver disease

Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) has been reported to be a fibrinolysis regulating protein due to its capacity to bind to the high affinity lysine binding sites of plasminogen. Using immunological methods we have measured the concentrations in plasma of HRG and total plasminogen and calculated the amounts of plasminogen not bound to HRG (free plasminogen) in 28 patients with moderate to severe liver disease. All three parametres showed wide individual variations, but with decreasing functional capacity of the liver the individual levels of plasminogen were reduced earlier than those of HRG leading to decreased amounts of free plasminogen. Simultaneous determinations of HRG and total plasminogen combined with a calculation of free plasminogen might yield valuable information when evaluating patients for the availability of plasminogen.