Abstract
Digital gangrene was observed in a patient who had angiographic findings of digital arterial occlusion. The patient's blood showed a marked red blood cell aggregation with rouleaux formation in long chains, which could not be dispersed at shear rates up to 200 sec-1. Studies of the patient's blood revealed the presence of an abnormal fibrinogen capable of aggregating normal red blood cells. This fibrinogen was found by Raman spectroscopy to have an increased α-helical content, whereas the β-sheet content was decreased. Defibrinogenation therapy with ancrod resulted in a dramatic symptomatic relief. The disappearance of the abnormal fibrinogen 6 months later and an absence of a family history indicate that this dysfibrinogenemia was acquired.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1061-1068 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Vascular Surgery |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1997 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine