Examinations
Examinations
The final stage of blood coagulation involves the formation of fibrin and fibrinogen. Thrombin time (TT) measures the time required for fibrinogen to convert into fibrin in citrated plasma after the addition of thrombin and calcium.
TT is used to assess the clotting activity of blood. An increase in TT is observed with a significant decrease in fibrinogen levels (e.g., 0.5 g/L).
A reduction in clotting factors, particularly fibrinogen or the presence of heparin, leads to a shortening of clotting time.
Blood is drawn in the morning on an empty stomach, 8–14 hours after dinner (water is allowed) or 4 hours after a light meal in the afternoon.
The day before the blood draw, it is necessary to reduce psycho-emotional and physical stress and avoid alcohol consumption.
- Detection of fibrinogen deficiency or defect
- Assessment of the patient's condition in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) syndrome
- Liver diseases
- Monitoring during therapy with heparin, fibrinolytic, or thrombolytic agents
- Detection of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products in the blood
- Identification of congenital and acquired fibrinogen deficiency or dysfibrinogenemia.
- Hypofibrinogenemia (reduced fibrinogen concentration, <0.5 g/L), both congenital and acquired
- Marked increase in fibrinogen concentration (>4 g/L)
- Dysfibrinogenemia, congenital or acquired (intestinal pathology)
- High levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products
- Presence of anticoagulant factors in the blood (e.g., heparin, hirudin, synthetic antithrombin)
- Hyperbilirubinemia
- Paraproteinemia
- Uremia
- Multiple myeloma
Shortened Thrombin Time:
- Increased risk of thrombosis
- Significant elevation of fibrinogen levels in the blood.