Which laboratory result would you expect in a patient with afibrinogenemia?

In a patient with afibrinogenemia, the primary issue is the complete absence of fibrinogen, a crucial component of the coagulation cascade that plays a vital role in the formation of blood clots. Fibrinogen is converted to fibrin during the clotting process, which is essential for effective hemostasis. When fibrinogen is not present, the body cannot form stable clots, leading to significant bleeding risks.

In this context, abnormal platelet aggregation is expected because effective platelet function relies on fibrinogen's ability to bind platelets together, especially at sites of vascular injury. With no fibrinogen available, platelets cannot aggregate properly as there isn't a sufficient scaffold for them to stick to each other, which is critical for the formation of a stable clot. This results in inappropriate bleeding tendencies and can be detected through specific platelet aggregation tests that would show reduced or absent aggregation responses.

The other laboratory results such as prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) may not show significant prolongation specifically attributable to fibrinogen absence; thus, the normal expectation would be that PT and APTT assessments could remain within a normal range in the absence of this vital coagulation