National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Type 1 plasminogen deficiency


Other Names:
Hypoplasminogenemia
Categories:
Type 1 plasminogen deficiency is a genetic condition associated with inflammed growths on the mucous membranes, the moist tissues that line body openings such as the eye, mouth, nasopharynx, trachea, and female genital tract. The growths may be triggered by local injury and/or infection and often recur after removal. The growths are caused by the deposition of fibrin (a protein involved in blood clotting) and by inflammation. The most common clinical finding is ligneous ('wood-like') conjunctivitis, a condition marked by redness and subsequent formation of pseudomembranes of part of the eye that progresses to white, yellow-white or red thick masses with a wood-like consistency that replace the normal mucosa. This can lead to vision loss. Growths in other areas can also lead to medical problems; those that occur in the gastrointestinal tract can cause ulcers, and growth in the windpipe can lead to breathing problems. Hydrocephalus may be present at birth in a small number of individuals.[1][2] Type 1 plasminogen deficiency is caused by mutations in the PLG gene. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.[2] Management depends upon the sites involved, but mainly focuses on managing the ligneous conjunctivitis.[3]
Last updated: 6/13/2016
Type 1 plasminogen deficiency is characterized by the formation of inflamed growths on the mucous membranes. The area of the body most commonly affected is the conjunctiva, which are the mucous membranes that protect the white part of the eye (the sclera) and line the eyelids. The most common symptom of this disorder is ligneous conjunctivitis. This occurs when a buildup of a protein called fibrin causes inflammation of the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis), leading to thick, woody (ligneous), inflamed growths. The growths usually appear yellow, white, or red in color. Ligneous conjunctivitis most often occurs on the inside of the eyelids. These growths can lead to tearing of the cornea, scarring, and vision loss. 

Other, less commonly affected areas include the inside of the mouth and gums, ears, upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and female reproductive tract. The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and skin may also be affected.[4][5][3]
Last updated: 6/15/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 26 |
Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of vision
Abnormality of sight
Vision issue
[ more ] 		0000504
Decreased level of plasminogen 0040228
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Gingival overgrowth
Gum enlargement
0000212
Gingivitis
Inflamed gums
Red and swollen gums
[ more ] 		0000230
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal fallopian tube morphology 0011027
Abnormality of the middle ear 0000370
Abnormality of the ovary
Abnormality of the ovaries
0000137
Abnormality of the respiratory system 0002086
Abnormality of the skin 0000951
Cervicitis
Uterine cervix inflammation
0030160
Dandy-Walker malformation 0001305
Duodenal ulcer 0002588
Hydrocephalus
Too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain
0000238
Nephritis
Kidney inflammation
0000123
Nephrolithiasis
Kidney stones
0000787
Periodontitis 0000704
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormality of metabolism/homeostasis
Laboratory abnormality
Metabolism abnormality
[ more ] 		0001939
Abnormality of the ear 0000598
Abnormality of the larynx 0001600
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Blindness 0000618
Cerebellar hypoplasia
Small cerebellum
Underdeveloped cerebellum
[ more ] 		0001321
Conjunctivitis
Pink eye
0000509
Infantile onset
Onset in first year of life
Onset in infancy
[ more ] 		0003593
Macrocephaly
Increased size of skull
Large head
Large head circumference
[ more ] 		0000256
Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections
Recurrent colds
0002788
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
Type 1 plasminogen deficiency is caused by mutations in the PLG gene. This gene provides instructions for making a protein called plasminogen.[2][3] Enzymes called plasminogen activators convert plasminogen into the protein plasmin, whose function is to dissolve fibrin clots. Fibrin clots form scabs at a wound site, providing the framework for new tissue growth.[2] PLG mutations can decrease the amount of plasminogen that is produced, alter its function, or both. When the mutations affect plasminogen levels as well as the activity of the protein, type 1 plasminogen deficiency results.[2][3] A reduction in functional plasminogen results in less plasmin, which allows fibrin to buildup. The excess fibrin and the resulting inflammation of the tissue result in the inflamed woody growth characteristic of this condition.[2] 

Last updated: 6/13/2016
Type 1 plasminogen deficiency is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that to be affected, a person must have a mutation in both copies of the responsible gene in each cell.[2] Affected people inherit one mutated copy of the gene from each parent, who is referred to as a carrier. Carriers of an autosomal recessive condition typically do not have any signs and symptoms (they are unaffected). When 2 carriers of an autosomal recessive condition have children, each child has a:
  • 25% (1 in 4) chance to be affected,
  • 50% (1 in 2) chance to be an unaffected carrier, like each parent, and 
  • 25% (1 in 4) chance to be unaffected and not be a carrier.
Last updated: 6/14/2016

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • Orphanet lists international laboratories offering diagnostic testing for this condition.
There is currently no established approach to treatment of type 1 plasminogen deficiency.[6] However, some cases of ligneous conjunctivitis, the most common disease manifestation, have been successfully treated using a combination of surgery and plasminogen administration. Surgery alone to remove the eye growths can be a temporary fix; however, irritation secondary to surgery can result in recurrence. Other therapies that have been used in reports with varying degrees of success include corticosteroids, immunosuppressants (Cyclosporine), blood thinners (heparin), alpha-chymotrypsin (digestive enzyme), plasma infusion (white blood cells), and anti-virals.[7][8] Clinical trials regarding the use of plasminogen replacement therapy are ongoing.[9]
Last updated: 3/7/2017

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Type 1 plasminogen deficiency. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Type 1 plasminogen deficiency. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Type 1 plasminogen deficiency. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • My son has type 1 plasminogen deficiency and currently has been diagnosed with ligneous conjunctivitis. Please provide any and all information that you have with respect to this disease. See answer


  1. Ginsburg D. Hemophilia and Other Disorders of Hemostasis. In: Rimoin DL, Connor JM, Pyeritz RE, Korf BR. Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics, 5th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Ltd; 2007;
  2. Congenital plaminogen deficiency. Genetics Home Reference (GHR). August 2012; https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/congenital-plasminogen-deficiency.
  3. Schuster V. Hypoplasminogenemia. Orphanet. May 2008; http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?lng=en&Expert=722.
  4. Tefs K, Gueorguieva M, Klammt J, Allen CM, Aktas D, Anlar FY et al. Molecular and clinical spectrum of type I plasminogen deficiency: a series of 50 patients. Blood. November 2006; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16849641.
  5. Congenital plasminogen deficiency. Genetics Home Reference (GHR). August 2012; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/congenital-plasminogen-deficiency. Accessed 4/29/2013.
  6. Celkan T. Plasminogen deficiency. J Thromb Thrombolysis. January, 2017; 43(1):132-138.
  7. Colman RW, Marder VJ, Clowes AW, George JN, Goldhaber SZ. Hemostasis and Thrombosis. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005;
  8. Michael J. Ang, Konstantinos I. Papageorgiou, Shu-Hong Chang, Jocelyn Kohn, Helen Chokron Garneau, Robert A. Goldberg. Topical Plasminogen as Adjunctive Treatment in Recurrent Ligneous Conjunctivitis. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. April 8, 2016; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27065432.
  9. Fay WP. Thrombotic and hemorrhagic disorders due to abnormal fibrinolysis. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; August, 2015;