title: Decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels in coronary artery aneurysmatic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of arterial aneurysms through increased proteolysis of extracellular matrix proteins. Increased proteolysis due to elevated matrix degrading enzyme activity in the arterial wall may act as a susceptibility factor for the development of coronary aneurysms. Plasmin strongly stimulates pro-MMP enzyme conversion to the active form. Plasmin hyperactivity due to decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) may cause MMP over activity and coronary aneurysms. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PAI-1 and presence of coronary aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients with aneurysmal coronary artery disease and stable angina were enrolled into study (Group 1). Twenty-two patients without coronary aneurysm were selected as a control group (Group 2). PAI-1 was measured in peripheral venous blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma PAI-1 level was lower in the coronary artery aneurysmatic patients compared to the control group (8.41 +/- 4.28 vs. 13.32 +/- 10.05 ng/ml, p = 0.037). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) values were not significantly different between groups (3.83 +/- 1.08 vs. 4.01 +/- 1.35 mg/l, p >0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased matrix degrading enzyme activity can cause arterial wall destruction through increased proteolysis of extracellular matrix proteins. Unregulated plasmin hyperactivity due to decreased inhibition by PAI-1 may play an important role in coronary aneurysm formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Central Hospital, Izmir 35010, Turkey. ertugrulercan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ercan
authors.forename: Istemihan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tengiz
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duman
authors.forename: Cevad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sekuri
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aliyev
authors.forename: Birsen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.forename: H Ekin
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Ercan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases