Abstract
α2-Antiplasmin and α2-macroglobulin have been studied during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and parturition in healthy women, and during use of various types of contraception in both healthy and diabetic women, and compared with a reference group of healthy men and women.
α2-Antiplasmin showed a slight sex difference, with higher values in women. The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle showed slightly higher values than the other phases. α2-Antiplasmin increased during pregnancy, decreased (probably due to consumption) during labor and increased again in the puerperium. Treatment with neither combined contraceptive pills nor low dose progestogen pills gave any changes in α2-antiplasmin.
α2-Macroglobulin showed low values during menstruation. The increase during pregnancy and treatment with combined contraceptive pills is in accordance with earlier findings.
It is concluded that synthesis and metabolism of α2-antiplasmin are under hormonal influence. The role of α2-antiplasmin in the decreased fibrinolysis in pregnancy is discussed.