Evaluation of the fibrinolytic system in full-term neonates.

Plasminogen activity and antigen, euglobulin fibrinolytic activity, tissue-type plasminogen activator activity and antigen urokinase-type plasminogen activator antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity and antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 antigen, tissue-type plasminogen activator/plasminogen activator inhibitor complexes, alpha 2-antiplasmin, histidine-rich glycoprotein, and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products were measured in blood samples taken from the umbilical vein of 100 healthy full-term newborns. Results were compared with a control group of 30 healthy adults. The overall fibrinolytic activity assessed on fibrin plates was significantly increased (P < 0.