Studies on Tissue-type Plasminogen Activator (tPA) and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) during Childhood

II. Study on Cases with Hyperfibrinolysis in the Early Neonatal Period

Abstract

We examined the fibrinolytic activities of neonates, especially in the early neonatal period, and we found cases with short euglobulin clot lysis time (ELT); 8 of 66 cord plasma, 1 of 13 1-day-old plasma and 2 of 15 3-day-old plasma samples. Then, we distinguished the cases with short ELT from the other cases with normal ELT in neonates and investigated further fibrinolytic parameters. Some of the cases with short ELT showed high levels of plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen and low levels of plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity. Especially, cord plasma with short ELT showed significant differences in tPA antigen and PAI activity from those with normal ELT. These findings indicate that tPA and PAI-1 have important roles in shortening ELT in neonates.