Coagulation profile and the ethanol gelation test with special reference to components consumed during coagulation.

In 753 consequtive blood samples (from the same number of patients) routinely examined for coagulation abnormalities, a positive ethanol gelation test was found in 160. In 7 samples with plasma fibrinogen below 150 mg/100 ml and a positive test, other laboratory signs of consumption coagulopathy (low thrombocyte count, low factor V, low antithrombin III, large amounts of FDP in serum and great discrepancies between Normotest and Thrombotest) were regularly observed. Also at normal or high fibrinogen levels, a positive ethanol gelation test was more frequently associated with low thrombocyte counts, low factor V and Normotest/Thrombotest discrepancy than was a negative test. In 46% of the samples with a positive test, fibrinogen was higher than 500 mg/100 ml (versus 4% in those with a negative test). In one-third of these samples, all other parameters gave normal results.