Abstract
The fibrinolytic activity in the blood in 60 women during labour was compared with that in 60, women at term. Both the spontaneous fibrinolytic activity and the response of fibrinolytic activity to venous occlusion were significantly higher during labour. Fibrin de- gradation products (FDP) (0.5-2 mg/100 ml) appeared in 37% during labour compared with 5% in the term group., No decrease was found in the inhibitors of the fibrinolytic system. It is assumed that the rise in fibrinolytic activity during labour may be due to changes in the hormonal secretion of the placenta.