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Intermittent pneumatic compression of the calf has proven beneficial as prophylaxis for calf vein thrombosis. To define a possible role for the fibrinolytic system, two studies were performed.Two groups of normal male volunteers aged 18-42 years were rested for one half hour; a control blood sample was drawn and one arm or both legs pumped for one half hour using a pneumatic boot inflated intermittently to 50mm Hg (90 sec. on, 90 sec. off; filling time 60 sec.). A second blood sample was obtained. In group one (arm pumped; antecubital vein sample, same side) the euglobulin lysis time decreased 23% (191 to 147 min., n=13, p=.05). In group two (both legs pumped; simultaneous sample from femoral and antecubital veins) there was a 25% reduction in euglobulin lysis (230 to 172 min., n=16, p=.01) in femoral vein blood and an 18% decrease in antecubital vein blood (229 to 188 min., n=16, p=.04). As expected the effect was most pronounced in the local venous effluent and less noticeable in the systemic circulation due to dilution.The possibility that mechanical compression of the calf veins produces chemical changes that might exert a beneficial effect in preventing venous calf thrombosis is consistent with the data.