New rapid method for diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis

The plasma concentration of the platelet-specific protein beta-thromboglobulin was measured in fourteen patients who had been investigated for deep venous thrombosis by venography or 125I-fibrinogen scanning. All six patients with a proven thrombus had a raised plasma concentration of beta-thromboglobulin. Eight patients in whom no thrombus could be demonstrated had plasma concentrations of beta-thromboglobulin similar to a control group of thirty-five normal individuals. These results indicate that the measurement of plasma beta-thromboglobulin concentrations may be of use in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis.