Accelerated fibrinolysis associated with liver disease can be demonstrated by various tests that are either nonspecific in liver disease or that demonstrate only an extrinsic pathway. In the present study we used a new method to assess the global fibrinolytic capacity (GFC) of both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways in patients with chronic liver disease. Forty patients with the diagnosis of chronic liver disease were included in the study. Seventeen age-matched and gender-matched healthy control individuals were enrolled as a control group. The GFC was studied with semiquantitative macrolatex agglutination. The study population consisted of 40 patients with chronic liver disease (group 1, patients with chronic hepatitis; group 2, patients with cirrhosis; group 3, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma), mean age 53.3 +/- 13 years, and a control group (group 4) consisting of 17 healthy individuals (mean age 55 +/- 12.2 years). The GFC was significantly higher in patients than in control individuals (13.8 +/- 9 microg/ml, 13.6 +/- 11 microg/ml, 14.1 +/- 14 microg/ml, 1.9 +/- 2.2 microg/ml, respectively; P < 0.05). There was no difference between the patient groups (P > 0.05). There was a significant positive relationship between the GFC and the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time values (P < 0.05). A negative correlation was also observed between the GFC and thrombocyte counts (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that patients with chronic liver disease have hyperfibrinolysis, as reflected by the increased GFC. Elucidation of the GFC in chronic liver disease can reflect the net fibrinolytic capacity of those patients who are prone to hyperfibrinolysis resulting in bleeding tendencies and hemorrhages.