Hyperfibrinolysis and fibrinolysis shutdown in patients with traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with coagulation/fibrinolysis disorders. We retrospectively evaluated 61 TBI cases transported to hospital within 1 h post-injury. Levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), D-dimer, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were measured on arrival and 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days after injury. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors for coagulation and fibrinolysis. Plasma TAT levels peaked at admission and decreased until 1 day after injury. Plasma D-dimer levels increased, peaking up to 3 h after injury, and decreasing up to 3 days after injury. Plasma PAI-1 levels increased up to 3 h after injury, the upward trend continuing until 6 h after injury, followed by a decrease until 3 days after injury. TAT, D-dimer, and PAI-1 were elevated in the acute phase of TBI in cases with poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that D-dimer elevation from admission to 3 h after injury and PAI-1 elevation from 6 h to 1 day after injury were significant negative prognostic indicators. Post-TBI hypercoagulation, fibrinolysis, and fibrinolysis shutdown were activated consecutively. Hyperfibrinolysis immediately after injury and subsequent fibrinolysis shutdown were associated with poor outcome.