Plasma prekallikrein, functional kallikrein inhibition, antithrombin III, plasminogen, kallikrein activity and proenzyme functional inhibition index in 172 acute ill surgical patients on admission.

The present study was performed in order to study disturbances in plasma proteolysis in acute ill surgical patients on admission. The paper describes the distribution of values for plasma PKK, KKI, AT III, Plg, KK and PFI-index. In early stages of the disease process rather minimal information can be obtained by these data in addition to clinical examination. The study indicates that chromogenic peptide substrate assays should be reserved for surgical patients treated in the intensive care unit.