Serial plasma fibrinogen changes accompanying sickle cell pain crisis

Summary Serial measurements of plasma fibrinogen concentrations have been made in nine homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD) patients during vaso‐occlusive crisis. Fibrinogen was measured by the clot‐weight technique. Changes in fibrinogen concentration showed a typical pattern, rising sharply and significantly to a maximum on approximately the second day of the onset of pain crisis and after treatment was instituted. Because of the well‐defined and consistent response of this acute‐phase reactant protein, this study suggests that serial measurements of fibrinogen could be used as a sensitive parameter to monitor the progression of sickle cell pain crisis. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved