Depressed plasma fibrinolytic activity in a group of patients with connective tissue diseases

In various connective tissue disorders, a depressed fibrinolytic activity of the blood, attributed a contributory role in the development of disease, has been reported. We have determined selected fibrinolysis variables of the blood in 16 patients (7 patients with mixed connective tissue disease, 4 with systemic lupus erythematosus, 3 with rheumatoid arthritis and 2 with systemic sclerosis) and in 16 apparently healthy, age- and sex-matched controls. A significantly reduced mean activity of the intrinsic derived, urokinase-like plasminogen activator was found in the patient group. None of the other variables, including the extrinsic plasminogen activator (t-PA), differed from the control group. Possible implications of our findings in relation to the patho-physiology of these connective tissue diseases are discussed.