Previous studies have shown that the fibrinolytic activity of peritoneum is depressed in local inflammation. We measured fibrinolytic parameters in peritoneal fluid and in plasma of 10 women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Nine women, in whom laparoscopy for sterilisation was performed, served as a control group. In the peritoneal fluid of women with PID, PAI-Ag, t-PA-Ag and u-PA-Ag were many times higher than in the control group. In contrast to the antigens which may be present in inert complexes, the potentially active compounds, measured as t-PA activity and plasmin-activable scu-PA, were not significantly different in the two groups, and in none of the samples was the active enzyme tcu-PA detectable. Nevertheless, the mean peritoneal fluid TDP and FbDP concentrations were about twenty times higher in the PID group than in the control group. In plasma of PID patients, none of the parameters except u-PA-Ag differed from those in the control group. The difference between control and patient plasma u-PA-Ag was statistically significant, but too small to attach any relevance to the observation. Our data suggest that, in contrast to the classical concept of decreased fibrinolytic activity as a cause of adhesion formation, intraperitoneal fibrinolysis is enhanced in peritoneal inflammation through stimulation of the local production of t-PA and u-PA. Despite concomitant production of PAI, fibrinolysis occurs at a high rate, resulting in high levels of fibrin degradation products. Since this activated fibrinolysis does not meet the demand, therapeutic enhancement should be considered to prevent adhesions.