Increased fibrin turnover and high PAI-1 activity as predictors of ischemic events in atherosclerotic patients. A case-control study

Abstract

A case-control comparison within the framework of the prospective, multidisciplinary PLAT Study was performed to assess whether altered baseline fibrinolytic variables were associated with an elevated risk of ischemic thrombotic events in patients with documented coronary, cerebral, and/or peripheral atherosclerotic disease. Fibrinogen, D-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen, and fibrinolytic activity before and after venous stasis (Δ=difference between the two values), t-PA inhibitor, and lipid levels in 60 atherosclerotic patients with a thrombotic event during the first year of follow-up were compared with those in 94 atherosclerotic patients without such events, who were matched for age, sex, and diagnosis at enrollment. Events were associated with a higher release of Δ t-PA antigen (P=.047), higher D-dimer (P=.024), and higher t-PA inhibitor (P=.001) levels. A Fibrinolytic activity was correlated inversely with t-PA inhibitor (P