Clinical significance of new coagulation and fibrinolytic markers in ischemic stroke patients

Abstract

Background and Purpose: We investigated plasma levels of D-dimer products of crossl inked fibrin degradation products, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, and plasmin-α2-antiplasmin complex for detecting coagulation system activation in ischemic stroke patients to determine the possible effect of age on these marker levels. Methods: We measured plasma levels of these three markers in 54 acute ischemic stroke patients within 5 days of stroke onset, in 44 chronic ischemic stroke patients over 3 months from onset, and in 50 age-matched healthy subjects. We divided the stroke patients into two subgroups, those with visible occlusion and those with nonvisible occlusion having obstruction of the major cerebral artery. Results: The plasma levels of these three markers were significantly (p<0.01) higher in the stroke patients than in controls. Significant differences did not exist at any level between the patients and controls in the younger-aged subjects (≤64 years of age), but did exist in the older-aged subjects (≥75 years of age). An age-related increase of the marker levels was noted between stroke patients and controls. No significant difference in the three markers was found among any of the stroke patients. Conclusions: Increased levels of these markers in stroke patients seem to be related mostly to age. © 1991 American Heart Association, Inc.