Activation of the Coagulation System in Connective Tissue Diseases: A Study of [125I] Fibrinogen Clearance

Fifty-one patients with different connective tissue diseases in either active or clinically inactive phase were studied to detect the incidence of chronic or subclinical consumption coagulopathy in these forms. Every patient received intravenously 20 μCi of [125I] fibrinogen and the clearance of the labeled fibrinogen was evaluated and expressed by the T/2 method. The data confirm the activation of the coagulation system in connective tissue diseases. In patients with S.L.E., enhanced fibrinogen consumption was significantly correlated with disease activity, DNA-binding activity test, serum complement level and an aspecific inflammatory index (serum mucoprotein level). These preliminary data suggest the usefulness of complementary treatment in connective tissue diseases to counteract this specific pathogenetic mechanism.