Abstract
Summary
The fibrinogen level of plasma and blood of large veins and arteries declines sharply and then gradually returns toward the preinjection level immediately after intra-vascular injection of histamine. The quantitative changes in fibrinogen are independent of those in other plasma proteins. They parallel the acute drop and gradual return in blood pressure referable to peripheral capillary alterations. This movement of fibrinogen is independent of anesthesia, splenectomy and cord transsection. It is not specific for histamine but occurs with other vasodepressors as well. With vasopressor agents a reversed movement of fibrinogen follows. The sudden changes in size of the capillary bed seem to be coordinated with the fibrinogen content of the circulating blood.
The two methods used for the estimation of fibrinogen yielded qualitatively similar but quantitatively differential values.
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