Fibrinolytic activity in patients with chronic low back pain

ABSTRACT

A group of sixteen patients with chronic low back pain [CLBP] of various aetiology was examined clinically and radiologically. Blood samples were withdrawn and fibrinolytic activity [FA] was examined by measuring the percentage of plasminogen and infinity-antiplasmin in the plasma of the patient group and of a control group consisting of twenty matched healthy individuals. Four patients [25%] showed defective fibrinolysis namely, significant reduction of plasminogen percentage below normal. In addition, mean plasminogen percentage in plasma in the patient group was significantly lower than in controls [P < 005], but there was no significant difference in the mean plasma percentage of infinity-antiplasmin. Furthermore, no association could be detected between defective fibrinolysis and the degree of the clinical and radiological manifestations of CLBP. Larger patient groups should be investigated to verify the importance of fibrinolytic defect in the aetiology of CLBP. In addition, enhancement of FA may be used as a trial to manage patients showing fibrinolytic defect