Intravitreal fibrinolysis in experimental vitreous haemorrhage.

The fibrinolytic system within experimentally induced vitreous haemorrhages was studied in rabbits. The presence of crosslinked fibrin was noted for up to five weeks following induction of the haemorrhage, while soluble fibrin degradation products were detected in low concentration for two months. Plasminogen activator activity of the vitreous did not decline following vitreous haemorrhage. In addition haemolysis appeared to occur simultaneously with fibrinolysis. It is suggested that fibrinolysis is important in the clearing of blood from the vitreous, and may be the initiating step.