Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels in patients with chronic angina pectoris with or without angiographic evidence of coronary sclerosis.
Increased plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) have been shown to exist in 40 to 60% of patients with stable coronary artery disease and have been suggested to be responsible for the development of coronary thrombotic complications. However, it is also discussed whether PAI-1 elevation might mainly be due to variables like increased age or to reactive mechanisms caused e.g. by the chest pain itself. To exclude age dependent or pain related influences, age-matched patients with stable angina pectoris (NHYA II) and angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD, n = 16) or without evidence for coronary sclerosis (variant angina, n = 10; angina-like syndrome with normal coronary angiogram, n = 5; non-CAD, n = 15) have been investigated for their plasma PAI-1 activity and t-PA antigen levels. The mean PAI activity in CAD patients (17.5 U/ml) was significantly higher than in non-CAD patients (9.6 U/ml) (p less than 0.0001). In the CAD patients no significant variation in plasma PAI-1 values could be demonstrated when related to the extent of the disease or to a history of previous myocardial infarction. t-PA antigen was also elevated in CAD patients as compared to the non-CAD group (p less than 0.02). The results suggest therefore a strong correlation between coronary artery disease itself and elevated levels of components of the plasma fibrinolytic system.
Huber
K
K
Department of Cardiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Resch
I
I
Stefenelli
T
T
Lang
I
I
Probst
P
P
Kaindl
F
F
Binder
B R
BR
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators / Q000097:blood*; D011859:Radiography; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000097:blood; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood
D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator