Plasminogen abnormalities in patients with Argentine hemorrhagic fever

Plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin, alpha 2-macroglobulin, alpha 1-antitrypsin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) were studied in 45 patients with Argentine hemorrhagic fever. Patients were grouped into: 17 mild, 14 moderate and 14 severe cases. Plasminogen antigen level and functional activity were found to be reduced in the moderate and severe groups, when compared to the results obtained at recovery. The functional activity of alpha 2-antiplasmin was within the normal range, except for a slight decrease on days 10-11, alpha 2-macroglobulin remained normal during the course of illness. alpha 1-antitrypsin also remained normal except on days 10-11, when an increase in the antigen level was noted. FDP titre was normal (less than 10 micrograms/ml) in all patients during the course of disease. Plasminogen decrease was not attributable to liver insufficiency neither to a primary nor secondary fibrinolysis. The decreased antigen and reduced functionality of plasminogen in these patients we believe is related to proteolytic degradation by leukocyte enzymes.