title: The effects of short-term raloxifene therapy on fibrinolysis markers: TAFI, tPA, and PAI-1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Markers of fibrinolysis, thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were studied for the evaluation of short-term effects of raloxifene administration in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis were included in this prospective, controlled clinical study. Twenty-five women were given raloxifene hydrochloride (60 mg/day) plus calcium (500 mg/day). Age-matched controls (n = 14) were given only calcium. Plasma TAFI, tPA, and PAI-1 antigen levels were measured at baseline and after 3 months of treatment by commercially available ELISA kits. Variations of individuals were assessed by Wilcoxon's test. Relationship between those markers and demographic characteristics were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three months of raloxifene treatment was associated with a significant decrease in the plasma TAFI antigen concentrations (16% change, P < 0.01), and a significant increase in tPA antigen concentrations (25% change, P < 0.05). A significant correlation was found between baseline TAFI antigen concentrations and the duration of amenorrhea (P < 0.05; r = 0.33).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that the increased risk of venous thromboembolism due to raloxifene treatment may be related to increased tPA levels, but not TAFI levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozeren
authors.forename: S Caner
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Karahan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozgur
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eminagaoglu
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unsal
authors.forename: Sukrucan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baytan
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bozkaya
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2 / Q000097:blood*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator