title: Plasma levels of the molecular markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: In 103 patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower limbs, coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters were evaluated to identify hemostatic abnormalities characteristic of this patient population. PAD was defined as clinically stable Leriche stage 2 (based on clinical history, peripheral pulses, ankle-arm index, and treadmill test) for at least 3 months, walking distance > 100 m, and no other major illnesses, rest pain, or trophic lesions. Defibrotide, a polydeoxyribonucleotide derivative with vascular effects, was administered to the patients as part of a multicenter trial. The PAD patients exhibited a prothrombotic state as evidenced by high D-dimer in all but 24% of the patients (average 797 +/- 802 vs. 163 +/- 54 ng/mL normal population; p < 0.001) and high thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) levels (10.2 +/- 8.9 vs. 2.5 + 1.5 ng/mL; p < 0.001) with low to normal levels of protein C (86 +/- 25 vs. 102 +/- 18%; p < 0.01) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen (5.9 +/- 4.5 vs. 1.3 + 0.7 ng/mL; p < 0.001) were elevated in 79% of the patients. These results suggest that there is ongoing thrombosis in the majority of PAD patients. Differences from normal controls were observed for t-PA, PAI-1, protein C, and protein S; however, it is not certain that the thrombosis in patients with PAD is due to these factors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoppensteadt
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Walenga
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fareed
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sabbá
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlizza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Binaghi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fronteddu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Guercio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Guercio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alletto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazzari
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000032:analysis; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides; C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; C036309:fibrin fragment D; C036901:defibrotide; D000990:Antithrombin III; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases