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Twenty-two convalescent patients at rest were given a fat-enriched breakfast with and without the addition of 60 g. of fried or boiled onions. Both forms of onions were found to prevent the expected decrease in fibrinolytic activity, and indeed the latter was actually increased.

Plasma and urine fibrinolysis were studied in 36 patients with glomerulonephritis and proteinuria. In 40% of these plasma fibrinolytic activator activity was moderately reduced and fibrinolytic inhibitors were increased. Globulins with antiplasmin effect were raised, particularly in the earlier months. Both the serum cholesterol and the plasma fibrinogen were related to the level of serum albumin, and those patients with high fibrinogen levels were also those with poor plasma fibrinolytic activator and those showing a steady deterioration. Urinary fibrinolysis was greatly reduced in most patients and bore no relation to plasma fibrinolysis levels. Hence urokinase is not derived from circulating plasminogen activator.

The defibrinating agent ancrod (Arvin) was used instead of heparin for intermittent haemodialysis. It was an effective, and apparently safe, anticoagulant and reduced the deposition of fibrin and leucocytes on the Cellophane membrane. Administration was more complicated and urea dialysance was less with ancrod than with heparin.

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.