In 753 consequtive blood samples (from the same number of patients) routinely examined for coagulation abnormalities, a positive ethanol gelation test was found in 160. In 7 samples with plasma fibrinogen below 150 mg/100 ml and a positive test, other laboratory signs of consumption coagulopathy (low thrombocyte count, low factor V, low antithrombin III, large amounts of FDP in serum and great discrepancies between Normotest and Thrombotest) were regularly observed. Also at normal or high fibrinogen levels, a positive ethanol gelation test was more frequently associated with low thrombocyte counts, low factor V and Normotest/Thrombotest discrepancy than was a negative test. In 46% of the samples with a positive test, fibrinogen was higher than 500 mg/100 ml (versus 4% in those with a negative test). In one-third of these samples, all other parameters gave normal results.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗

PubMed1975

The amount of fibrin necessary to give a positive ethanol gelation test at various fibrinogen levels.

The minimum fibrin-fibrinogen ratio (f-F ratio) required to give a positive ethanol gelation test at various fibrinogen concentrations was studied. Due to the fact that quantitation of soluble fibrin in plasma is difficult, highly purified fibrinogen was used. However, since a plasma milieu is required to achieve clear cut results with ethanol gelation (with purified fibrinogen alone, precipitation occurs), heat-defibrinated, dialysed and lyophilized normal plasma was added. With this artificial plasma, which in all relevant respects proved very similar to plasma obtained from healthy donors, ethanol gelation was not observed at the highest attainable fibrinogen concentration (1150 mg/100 ml). At fibrinogen levels down to 5-600 mg%, the minimum f-F ratio remained almost constant, but increased gradually by further lowering the fibrinogen concentration. At fibrinogen levels around 50 mg%, the ethanol gelation test remained negative, even in samples saturated with soluble fibrin, i.e. those containing visible fibrin threads.

Ethanol↗

PubMed1975

A positive ethanol gelation test associated with high plasma fibrinogen concentration - evidence for soluble fibrin. An experimental study in rabbits.

By infusion of large amounts of human fibrinogen into rabbits, the ethanol gelation test turned positive at various plasma concentrations of fibrinogen, depending on the fibrinogen preparation used, and on individual differences among the animals. After incubation of the fibrinogen preparation in the cold the precipitated material gave a positive ethanol gelation test at lower fibrinogen concentration whereas the ethanol gelation test remained negative in the supernatant at a higher fibrinogen level than that of the starting material. It is concluded that the finding of a positive ethanol gelation test is not due to the fibrinogen concentration per se. Most likely the test becomes positive due to the presence of soluble fibrin in the commercial preparations.

Animals↗

PubMed1974