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The levels of fibrin, fibrinogen degradation products (F.D.P.) in the serum were investigated in normal pregnancy and parturition, after caesarean section, and in patients with abruptio placentae, eclampsia, intrauterine death, and post-partum haemorrhage. No significant change occurred during normal pregnancy, but a highly significant increase was found during labour and again during the first week after normal delivery. After caesarean section the levels of F.D.P. were increased two to four hours after operation, and substantially higher levels were found three to eight days after operation than after normal delivery. High levels of F.D.P. were associated with abruptio placentae and eclampsia, and increased levels after intrauterine death and post-partum haemorrhage.An excess of F.D.P. with diminished or normal systemic fibrinolytic activity suggests that local intravascular fibrin deposition and fibrinolysis occur in normal parturition and in these complications of pregnancy. The very high levels of F.D.P. found in abruptio placentae will be important in the pathogenesis of the defective haemostasis that may accompany this complication.

The serum and urine concentrations of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (F.D.P.) were estimated in 172 patients with glomerulonephritis. In each case the diagnosis was established on the basis of clinical, renal histological, and ultrastructural findings. Serum F.D.P. concentrations were often raised in all types of glomerulonephritis, though more consistently in active proliferative forms. The urinary concentration provided a reliable and sensitive index of activity, progression, and natural history in proliferative glomerulonephritis. In these forms the urinary F.D.P. content was thought to reflect predominantly lysis of intraglomerular fibrin deposits. In minimal lesion and membranous glomerulonephritis low but abnormal concentrations of urinary F.D.P. were consistently found. It is suggested that in these cases the products are derived from limited proteolysis of fibrinogen filtered through an abnormally permeable basement membrane.Daily measurement of urinary F.D.P. concentration is of potential value in the differential diagnosis of patients with glomerulonephritis and at the same time provides a sensitive assessment of the activity and natural history of proliferative disease.