Chapter 1 – Fibrin / Spicules / Filits
Fibrin, also called Factor 1a, is made from fibrinogen, a soluble plasma glycoprotein that is synthesized by the liver. It is involved in the complex process of blood clotting by polymerizing and forming a mesh-like haemostatic plug.
Fibrin seen with colour enhanced - Fibrin in Dark Field
Scanning electron microscope
Despite major advances in molecular models of fibrin (i.e. with help of high resolution x-ray diffraction), there remains much to be understood regarding various properties of fibrin bundles, in particular mechanical properties as they relate to fibrin’s physiological functions. In plain English: scientists don’t really know how it works. Enderlein described it as linear line up of thousands of protists, which doesn’t really help in a scientific way either.
Fact is, it is visible in blood samples in dark field when there is a problem. But what really is the problem when you see it in dark field?
Reading through available material in books and internet on the topic it appears it is a marker of many problems including “liver problems”, “bad blood circulation”, “lack of oxygen”, “lack of anti-oxidants”, “oxidative stress”, “hyperacidity of tissues” and so on. It also becomes obvious that authors copy from each other because they don’t really know what it means.
I am not saying I have all the answers but try to analyze this dark field appearance as scientifically as possible.
1. Fibrin is involved in the process of blood clotting
2. Fibrin is found by pathologists as part of thrombi in atherosclerotic plaques
3. Fibrin can be seen in dark field
a) Surrounded by single red and white blood cells
b) In between rouleauxed red blood cells
c) As part of platelet aggregation
Coagulation is initiated almost instantly after an injury to blood vessels. Therefore it is important that practitioners doing live blood in dark field have a good routine and work quickly sampling the drop of blood for examination. The process of trapping a drop of blood between slide and cover slide stops coagulation. However, if too much time elapses between finger prick and sampling of the blood coagulation is initiated leading to fibrin bundles being seen and wrong conclusions being drawn. From my experience this is the case when we see fibrin surrounded by healthy looking blood cells and no platelet aggregation.
Fibrin seen amongst coin roll formation (rouleaux) of red blood cells is an indication of atherosclerosis, which is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries.
Chronic inflammatory conditions of arterial walls lead to tears and subsequently to formation of atheromatous plaque.
Fibrin as part of platelet aggregations is not so obvious in dark field. Platelet aggregations can be present much earlier then atherosclerosis. When the two come together a serious cardio-vascular accident is imminent.
Summary:
Fibrin bundles in dark field samples can be due to bad technique.
Calcium, an alkaline mineral, is part of atheromatous plaques and drawn from tissues in exchange for acid substances. So fibrin bundles can be an indicator for tissue acidity.
Hardening of arteries, which leads to chronic inflammation and tears of arterial walls, is associated with lack of essential fatty acids and vitamin c needed for production of elastin. So fibrin bundles can be an indicator for lack of anti-oxidants and oxidative stress.
Hardening of arteries and formation of atherosclerotic plagues impair blood flow. So fibrin bundles can indirectly show bad blood circulation.
However, I can not see any connection between fibrin bundles in dark field blood samples and liver problems apart from fibrinogen being produced by the liver, which doesn’t cause problems as such.
Author:
Dr. Hilbert Seeger, M.D., Ph.D.
Suite 102, 2 – 4 Pacific Highway
St. Leonards NSW 2065
Pictures:
All dark field pictures taken by Dr. H. Seeger
Fibrin in electron microscope and cut-section of artery from Wikipedia public domain
