Comparison of the plasminogen activator activity of superficial hand and foot veins.

The plasminogen activator (PA) activity in superficial hand and foot veins was determined with a fibrin slide technique in 68 patients (46 with and 22 without thrombosis). The activity in the hand veins was identical to that of the foot veins in 57% of the patients and higher in 38%. There was a correlation between activity in hand and foot veins in patients with and without thrombosis. Thus, biopsy specimens from superficial hand veins can be used for assessing the PA activity in patients with leg thrombosis.