Inventors:
Victor J. Marder - Rochester NY
Charles W. Francis - Rochester NY
Assignee:
Research Corporation Technologies, Inc. - Tucson AZ
International Classification:
G01N 33535, G01N 3353, C07K 1528, C12N 512
Abstract:
This invention relates to an assay for fibrin polymers for use in the diagnosis of patients at risk of thrombosis and in monitoring the effects of treatment in such patients. More particularly, the present invention relates to an assay for soluble crosslinked fibrin polymers in patent samples involving the in vitro treatment of the sample with a proteolytic enzyme such as t-PA which generates the D-dimer fragment of soluble fibrin polymers. The amount of D-dimer formed is determined by an immunoassay specific for D-dimer. The measurement of D-dimer is thus a useful reflection of the hypercoagulability state and the test may be useful for assessing pre-thrombotic or thrombotic disorders such as myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, as well as for soluble fibrin formation in neoplastic, immune, inflammatory states, or other pathologic conditions, and for evaluations of therapy such as with anticoagulants that are used to treat these conditions.