Immunohistochemical studies of human atherosclerotic lesions have demonstrated the occurrence of fibrin deposition and its degradation in the arterial wall. We studied fibrinogen, the generation of thrombin, and the degradation of fibrin in 40 patients with stable peripheral arterial occlusive disease of varying severity, as assessed by the ankle/brachial pressure index and duplex ultrasonography and/or angiography. Circulating fibrinogen (functional and immunological), fibrinopeptide A, thrombinantithrombin III complex, and D-dimer were measured. The severity of atherosclerosis was associated with both fibrinogen (both functional and immunological) and D-dimer (r=.57,p<.0002, and r=.S7, /><.0001, respectively). Fibrinogen and D-dimer showed a significant positive correlation (r=.5O,p<.001). Generation of thrombin was detected in 24 patients (60%) by fibrinopeptide A and levels of thrombinantithrombin III complex. As a sign of coagulation activation and fibrinolysis, we found that thrombinantithrombin III complex and the degradation of cross-linked fibrin were progressively associated with the extent of vascular disease. The plasmin-mediated fibrin breakdown contributed to increased levels of circulating fibrinogen, an established risk factor for thrombotic complications. The significant correlations between fibrinogen/D-dimer and the severity of atherosclerosis support previous pathological studies and imply that local degradation of cross-linked fibrin is involved in the progression of atherosclerosis.