Subjects with a shortened activated partial thromboplastin time show increased in-hospital mortality associated with elevated D-dimer, C-reactive protein and glucose levels.
BACKGROUND
Shortened activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) values are associated with enhanced coagulation activation. However, the clinical relevance of shortened aPTTs is not well defined. The aim of this study was to determine the in-hospital mortality rate in subjects with shortened aPTTs and the effects of polymorphism in plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-, t-PA- and factor XIII gene on the coagulation status. D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP) and glucose, markers that have been related with increased mortality, were tested.


RESULTS
We found that a shortened aPTT on admission was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (OR=2.6, 95% CI: 2.1-3.5). Non-survivors with short aPTTs had significantly higher plasma D-dimer, CRP and glucose levels compared with survivors. Subjects homozygous for PAI-1 5G and t-PA I alleles showed higher plasma D-dimer levels compared with 4G/4G PAI-1 (p=0.02) and D/D t-PA (p=0.001) homozygotes, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that PAI-1 4G/5G and t-PA I/D polymorphisms determine plasma D-dimer levels in patients with shortened aPTT values. Preliminary results show that, among patients with short aPTTs, homozygosity for the hyperfibrinolytic PAI-1 5G or tPA I alleles are at increased risk of in-hospital mortality compared with 4G/4G PAI-1 and D/D tPA homozygotes (OR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.3-5.5 and OR=5.5, 95% CI: 1.3-24.5, respectively).
Clinical Laboratory, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital Amsterdam. e.tenboekel@slaz.nl
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D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D000990:Antithrombin III; D002097:C-Reactive Protein