Fibrinolysis Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Fibrinolysis and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| The term that describes the process by which fibrin strands are broken down, then removed from an established clot is: | View Page |
| Which of the following mechanisms involve a series of interrelated chemical processes that lead to the formation of durable fibrin strands? | View Page |
| The Fibrinolytic System There is a very close relationship between the formation of fibrin, and its eventual degradation, or lysis. A fibrin clot serves as a temporary seal, intended to prevent continued blood loss from the damaged vessel while repair activities are performed. The breakdown of the clot begins almost as soon as the clot is formed! The process by which fibrin is broken down and removed from the clot, ultimately leading to complete dissolution of the clot, is called fibrinolysis. | View Page |
| The Fibrinolytic System Fibrin strands woven into the clot structure are cleaved into soluble fibrin fragments, and then removed by macrophages. The action of fibrinolysis also serves to restore blood flow into the area that had been sealed off, helping to promote further healing. Fibrinolysis is mediated by a proteolytic enzyme called plasmin. Plasminogen is the inactive precursor form of plasmin that is found in plasma. Plasmin takes on fibrinolytic properties after activation, digesting both fibrin and fibrinogen. Inhibitors act to control the process, serving as a check and balance system for fibrinolytic activities. | View Page |
| Which of the following statements is incorrect? | View Page |
| Fibrin/Fibrinogen Degradation Products and D-dimers The presence of D-dimers in plasma or whole blood indicates that fibrin has been formed and degraded (fibrinolysis). Plasmin can also degrade intact fibrinogen, generating fibrinogen degradation products that are detected in fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) assays. D-dimers and FDP can become elevated whenever the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems are activated. The presence of D-dimer confirms that both thrombin and plasmin have been generated since it can only be produced as the result of the plasmin degradation of fibrin. This makes the test for D-dimers more specific for fibrinolysis than the FDP test that also detects the products of the direct proteolysis of fibrinogen (fibrinogenolysis).The D-dimer test can be useful in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), two forms of venous thromboembolism (VTE). When the test is being used for this purpose, it is important that D-dimer levels are accurately measured and accurately reported because of the serious nature of this clinical decision. If the test is positive in a patient suspected to have DVT or PE, clinicians proceed with further diagnostic tests. If the test is negative, depending on the clinical situation and the sensitivity of the D-dimer assay, DVT or PE is considered unlikely and further diagnostic tests for DVT or PE might not be pursued. D-dimer is a sensitive, but not specific, diagnostic test for disseminated intravascular coagulation, and an indicator of increased risk of future myocardial infarction in patients evaluated for chest pain. | View Page |
| Which of the following statements is incorrect? | View Page |