Differentiation between fibrin degradation products and fibrinogen degradation products by using newly developed ELISAs

We should distinguish fibrin degradation products (FbDP) from fibrinogen degradation products (FgDP) in order to analyze fibrinolysis in vivo. We analyzed some disorders associated with hyperfibrinolytic states using ELISA for FbDP, FgDP and total fibrin (ogen) degradation products (TDP) (ORGANON TEKNIKA). Each ELISA was useful in terms of reproducibility and dilution linearity of plasma samples. There was no cross-reaction between FbDP and FgDP. The FgDP/FbDP ratio in normal individuals was 1.65. In patients with DIC, it was 0.43, with FgDP level being increased. These results suggest that fibrinolysis is enhanced in patients with DIC, but it is accompanied by fibrinogenolysis. On the other hand, the FgDP/FbDP ratio in patients given urokinase (UK) was 2.88. This suggests that fibrinogenolysis is enhanced in them. In our study, the FgDP/FbDP ratio increased as DIC improved. Thus, we can regard this as an index of therapeutic effects in patients with DIC. We conclude that these three ELISA are useful in analyzing disorders associated with hyperfibrinolytic states.