Intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients subjected to mitral commissurotomy

In 38 patients subjected to mitral commissurotomy the following changes indicated activation of intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis: early decrease in fibrinogen level, platelet count, euglobulin lysis time, increase of SFMC in plasma and of FDP in serum. Subsequent hyperfibrinogenemia was associated with a prolongation of euglobulin lysis. In 10 patients operated for abdominal hernia or varicose veins changes in the above mentioned tests, although similar in direction were much less pronounced and non significant.