Comparative study of the fibrinolytic system in human fetuses and in pregnant women.

Levels of major parameters of fibrinolysis were measured in 50 normal human fetuses between 19 and 39 weeks of gestation and compared to those of 50 healthy normal pregnant women and 30 adult controls. In fetuses, euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT) was significantly shortened, plasminogen level was low and histidine-rich glycoprotein undetectable. While t-PA and u-PA levels were slightly lower than in adult controls, a significant decrease in PAI activity was demonstrated and no PAI-2 could be detected in fetal plasma. In contrast with these findings, the fibrinolytic equilibrium of pregnant women exhibited a prolonged ECLT and a strong increase in both PAI activity and PAI-2 antigen levels, while only a moderate elevation in u-PA and t-PA levels was measured.