title: The effect of ethanol and its metabolism on fibrinolysis.
abstract: The role of ethanol metabolism in possible haemostatic cardioprotective effects has not yet been determined. To this end, we investigated the effect of a moderate dose of ethanol (35 g) and its metabolism, on haemostatic variables over 14 hours (h). Eighteen Caucasian males participated in a placebo-controlled, randomised, cross-over study. Blood was collected prior to alcohol consumption, and at 10 time points for 14 h. Blood ethanol peaked at 1 h and was cleared after 8 h following ethanol consumption, significantly increasing plasma acetate (p=0.0028). Ethanol did not influence the coagulation factors significantly. PAI-1act increased (p<0.0001) and tPAact (p=0.047) decreased following alcohol consumption, reaching maximum (0.69 to 22.2 IU/ml) and minimum (0.88 to 0.33 IU/ml) levels at 5 h, respectively. Significantly increased plasma clot lysis times (46.8 to 67.6 minutes) and reduced global fibrinolytic capacity of whole blood, measured as D-dimer production during incubation of blood clots (2.26 to 0.29 μg/ml), were found at 5 h. Except for PAI-1act (borderline significance; p=0.05), there was no significant difference in the fibrinolytic markers between the two groups the following morning. Moderate ethanol consumption resulted in a significant temporary fibrinolysis inhibition. Any protective effects of moderate ethanol consumption on cardiovascular disease do not appear to be due to improvement in fibrinolytic potential within the first 14 h following consumption. The use of global fibrinolytic assays is recommended for determining the true effect of ethanol on fibrinolysis.
authors.affiliation: TReNDS Centre of Excellence - Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520 South Africa. marlien.pieters@nwu.ac.za
authors.forename: Marlien
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.forename: Hester H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Vorster
authors.forename: Johann C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jerling
authors.forename: Christine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.forename: Retha C M
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kotze
authors.forename: Elsabe
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bornman
authors.forename: Joyce J M C
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Malfliet
authors.forename: Dingeman C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Rijken
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D015415:Biomarkers; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D000431:Ethanol