Plasma concentrations of fibrinopeptide A, fibrinogen fragment B beta 1-42 and beta-thromboglobulin following total hip replacement.

Plasma concentrations of thrombin sensitive peptide fibrinopeptide A (FpA), plasmin sensitive fibrinogen fragment B beta 1-42 and the platelet release product beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) have been measured in 36 patients before and after total hip replacement. Statistically significant elevations of all three activation products were observed in the days following operation. There were small differences in plasma concentrations of FpA, B beta 1-42 and beta TG in patients who did (n = 13) and did not (n = 23) develop post operative deep vein thrombosis, as assessed by ascending venography on post operative day 10, but these differences were not statistically significant. It is concluded that coagulation and fibrinolytic systems and also blood platelets are activated following total hip replacement operations. However, the formation of post operative deep vein thrombosis can not be effectively monitored by measurement of the activation products.