fibrinolysis

the process by which blood clots are removed from the circulation, involving digestion of the insoluble protein FIBRIN by the enzyme PLASMIN . The latter exists in the plasma as an inactive precursor (plasminogen), which is activated in parallel with the BLOOD COAGULATION process. Normally a balance is maintained between the processes of coagulation and fibrinolysis in the body; an abnormal increase in fibrinolysis leads to excessive bleeding.