Increased ristocetin-cofactor in acute myocardial infarction: a component of the acute phase reaction.
When compared to the values obtained in healthy normal-weight, normolipemic controls, the plasma level of ristocetin-cofactor (VIII:R-cof.) was found to be much higher in patients with acute myocardial infarction and in postoperative conditions (4--5 days after a major surgical intervention). A lesser increase of VIII:R-cof. was noted in atherosclerotic patients without acute occlusive accidents and no significant changes of this plasma factor could be observed in hyperlipemic subjects without obvious clinical atherosclerosis. Serial studies emphasized a tendency towards normalization of plasma VIII:R-cof. as the acute phenomena of a myocardial infarction subsided. The above mentioned data suggest that the high levels of VIII:R-cof. recorded in myocardial infarction are mainly caused by a systemic acute phase reaction and to a lesser extent by endothelial damage. Delayed clearance of VIII:R-cof. subsequent to a hepatic dysfunction or to a modified pattern of protein metabolism during the above mentioned acute phase reaction might also contribute to the high level of this plasma factor.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D005169:Factor VIII; D005340:Fibrinogen