Thrombin-antithrombin complex and the prothrombin fragment in arterial and venous blood of patients with peripheral arterial disease.
BACKGROUND
Thrombin generation has recently been recognized as an important factor in the development of arterial occlusive disease in all vascular provinces. Several reports concerning markers of thrombin generation have been published with however, conflicting results. It has been demonstrated in vitro that accelerated blood flow velocity causes increased thrombin generation via higher shear rates. In recent articles TAT and F1 + F2 concentrations are reported significantly higher in arterial than in venous blood. A correlation with the severity of atherosclerosis or specially with the stage of PAD was expected. In the present investigation we additionally collected blood from the femoral vein.


METHODS
In 11 patients with Fontaine stages IIb to IV and two healthy subjects TAT and F1 + F2 concentrations were determined in blood samples from the femoral artery, the femoral vein (diseased leg) and cubital vein. In all cases and at all puncture sites exactly the same atraumatic technique of venipuncture was used.


RESULTS
The concentrations of TAT and F1 + F2 were significantly elevated in patients with PAD. There was no significant difference between the concentrations of TAT and F1 + F2 in arterial (femoral artery) and venous (femoral vein and cubital vein) blood.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from previous investigations have been confirmed only partially. Differences in the puncture techniques to collect arterial or venous blood result in an increased scattering of the data and a systematic error.
Hering
J
J
Medizinische Klinik Nord, Klinikum Dortmund gGmbH, Münsterstrasse 240, Dortmund, Germany.
Amann
B
B
Angelkort
B
B
Rottmann
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000990:Antithrombin III; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000097:blood*; D011516:Prothrombin; D012016:Reference Values; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism
D010446:Peptide Fragments; C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; C045879:prothrombin fragment 1.2; D000990:Antithrombin III; D011516:Prothrombin; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D013917:Thrombin