| Description: |
The Stanford Special Coagulation Laboratories offers assays for functional and antigenic fibrinogen levels. Fibrinogen functions to bridge activated platelets, thus mediating platelet aggregation, and is the substrate for fibrin clot, which is created by proteolytic cleavage of fibrinopeptides by thrombin following coagulation system activation. Fibrinogen levels (functional and antigenic) may be increased as part of an inflammatory response or decreased in the setting of consumptive coagulopathies (DIC) or liver disease. Dysfibrinogeniemia refers to an abnormally functional fibrinogen molecule. Inherited dysfibrinogenemias can result in gain of function or loss of function. Acquired dysfibrinogenemias are most often seen in the setting of liver disease due to abnormal post-translational carbohydrate modification. In the setting of dysfibrinogenemia, the functional and antigenic levels are often discordant. For example with a loss of function defect, the functional level will be low while the antigenic level may be normal or increased. |
