Impaired fibrinolysis after kidney transplantation.

: Impaired fibrinolysis is associated with low plasma plasminogen (PLG) and a predominance of its inhibitor alpha 2-antiplasmin (APL). Plasma PLG and APL were determined in 10 recipients who retained their cadaveric graft (A) and 10 patients who lost it immediately after transplantation (B). In group A only five patients had a PLG less than 70 per cent and/or APL/PLG ratios exceeding 1.8, accompanied by severe albeit reversible acute rejection in three of them. In contrast nine of 10 group B patients had low PLG and/or an elevated APL/PLG ratio. Thus impaired fibrinolysis frequently appears to be associated with deterioration of cadaveric graft function.