Simultaneous radio-isotopic study of both fibrinogen and platelets in hepatic schistosomiasis

Simultaneous platelet and fibrinogen survival and turnover were studied using selenomethionine (75Se) in early and late groups of schistosomal hepatic fibrosis (SHF) and in a control group. In the control group, the mean platelet survival was 11.66 +/- 1.59 days and mean platelet turnover was 20,230 +/- 5090 platelets/microliter/day. Mean fibrinogen survival was 7.3 +/- 0.60 days and fibrinogen turnover was 0.35 +/- 0.04 mg/ml/day. In the early schistosomal group, platelet survival was shortened with an increased turnover rate and normal platelet count. The presence of a structurally abnormal fibrinogen molecule in the early group may have resulted in its shortened survival, that was compensated by the liver through increasing the turnover rate. In the late group, platelet survival was shortened with no significant increase of fibrinogen turnover, while fibrinogen concentration remained normal, suggesting the presence of extrahepatic sites of fibrinogen synthesis.