title: Physical activity status and adverse age-related differences in coagulation and fibrinolytic factors in women.
abstract: Adverse changes in coagulation and fibrinolytic factors are thought to contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and atherothrombosis with age. We tested the hypothesis that such age-related changes in specific coagulation and fibrinolytic factors are absent in physically active women. Resting levels of plasma fibrinogen, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen and activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen and activity, and fibrin D-dimer were measured in 24 healthy premenopausal women: 11 sedentary (aged 28+/-1 years; Pre-S) and 13 physically active (aged 30+/-1 years; Pre-PA) and in 27 healthy postmenopausal women: 14 sedentary (aged 61+/-1 years; Post-S) and 13 physically active (aged 58+/-1 years; Post-PA). Post-S had higher (P<.05) fibrinogen, t-PA antigen, PAI-1 antigen, PAI-1 activity, and fibrin D-dimer levels and lower t-PA activity than Pre-S. Post-PA demonstrated lower (P<.01) plasma fibrinogen, t-PA antigen, PAI-1 antigen, and PAI-1 activity and higher (P<.01) t-PA activity levels than Post-S. In addition, plasma fibrin D-dimer levels tended (P=.06) to be lower in Post-PA than in Post-S. Although plasma levels of fibrinogen and fibrin D-dimer in Post-PA were lower than in Post-S, they were higher (P<.05) than in Pre-PA. Importantly, however, the fibrinolytic profile of Post-PA did not differ from that of Pre-PA. The results of the present study demonstrate that the adverse age-associated differences in plasma fibrinogen concentrations and the endogenous fibrinolytic system in sedentary healthy women are either attenuated or absent in highly physically active women. The smaller or absent age-related differences in coagulation and fibrinolytic factors in women who habitually exercise may represent an important mechanism contributing to their lower age-related increase in both cardiovascular disease and atherothrombotic events. Future studies need to determine whether women who are moderately active would demonstrate the same favorable hemostatic profile.
authors.affiliation: Center for Physical Activity, Disease Prevention, and Aging, Department of Kinesiology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, USA. desouza@stripe.Colorado.edu
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: DeSouza
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Seals
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D005340:Fibrinogen; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator