We have attempted to determine whether depressed plasma plasminogen and alpha2 plasmin inhibitor (or alpha2 antiplasmin) activity is, as a result of consumption coagulopathy, a specific finding of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in septic patients. The hemostatic parameters of 139 septic patients (68 with DIC and 71 without DIC) were analyzed. Among the group as a whole, plasma activities of plasminogen and alpha2 plasmin inhibitor were significantly depressed in septic patients with DIC relative to those without DIC (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Notably, a significant correlation was observed between plasma levels of albumin and plasminogen activity, as well as between plasma levels of albumin and alpha2 plasmin inhibitor activity both in septic patients with DIC and those without DIC. However, no significant correlation was observed between plasma levels of plasmin-alpha2 plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) and plasminogen activity, nor between PIC and alpha2 plasmin inhibitor activity either in septic patients with DIC or those without DIC. We concluded that depressed activity of plasminogen or alpha2 plasmin inhibitor is not as a result of consumption coagulopathy, but rather a result of low synthetic function of the liver in septic patients with DIC.