title: Hemostatic markers in ischemic stroke of undetermined etiology.
abstract: To evaluate the role of the coagulation and fibrinolysis abnormalities in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke of undetermined etiology, we assayed plasma concentration of fibrinopeptide-A and thrombin-antithrombin III complex, both sensitive markers for thrombin activation and fibrin formation, and D-dimer, a marker of plasmin activity and fibrinolysis. Hemostatic markers were measured in 32 patients with acute stroke and 20 patients with chronic stroke, and compared with 21 normal subjects. Fibrinopeptide-A and thrombin-antithrombin III complex levels were not elevated significantly, whereas the D-dimer level was markedly raised in acute (p<0.001) and chronic (p<0.05) phases of ischemic stroke in comparison with the control group. Prolonged elevation of D-dimer concentration suggests that hemostatic abnormalities have a primary role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. The measurement of D-dimer concentration may help to better decide the indications for therapy of the patients with ischemic stroke of undetermined etiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Turkey. oruc@turk.net
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ince
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harmanci
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ulutin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A / Q000032:analysis*; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis*; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A; D000990:Antithrombin III; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases