title: Altered fibrinolysis in DVT: influence of site of sampling.
abstract: Alteration of the fibrinolytic system is considered to be important in the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Using specific assays for tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, t-PA inhibitor (PAI) and t-PA antigen, we measured these activities in 16 women who developed DVT during their pregnancies. A group of 24 healthy females of comparable age was studied as controls. PAI was increased in 87% of these patients compared to the healthy controls. In some of these patients a defect in release of t-PA from vascular endothelium was found as well. The site at which blood was sampled for analysis appeared to be an important criterion in the ex vivo assessment of functional t-PA reserve and PAI levels, though relatively less so for the latter measurement. The unaffected lower limbs, relative to the unaffected upper limbs, showed an increase in PAI and a demonstrable decrease in t-PA release, both representing increased risk factors for rethrombosis. The affected lower limbs showed similar but more accentuated changes in these parameters.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000097:blood*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator