title: Altered fibrin clot properties in patients with premature peripheral artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been shown that formation of denser and poorly lysable fibrin clots is observed in elderly patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that premature PAD is associated with more prothrombotic fibrin clot phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ex‑vivo plasma fibrin clot permeability, turbidity, and susceptibility to lysis were evaluated in 31 premature PAD patients (median ankle brachial index [ABI], 0.75; interquartile range, 0.5-0.8) aged 55 or less and 32 PAD patients (ABI, 0.66; 0.56-0.76) aged over 55 years. Subjects without PAD matched for age and sex (n = 40) served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Premature PAD patients were characterized by 32% lower clot permeability (Ks) (P <0.001), 7% longer clot lysis time (t50%) (P = 0.004), and 31% higher maximum D-dimer levels released from fibrin clots (D-Dmax) (P <0.001) compared with controls. These differences remained significant after adjustment for risk factors and medications. None of the fibrin clot parameters differed between premature and older PAD patients. There were correlations between fibrin clot parameters and CRP in premature PAD patients and with ABI in older PAD patients. In a multiple regression model, premature PAD and ABI were independent predictors of Ks, and premature PAD and plasma fibrinogen of the maximum absorbance of a fibrin gel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma fibrin clots show similarly abnormal prothrombotic phenotype in premature and older PAD patients. However, different factors influence fibrin clot parameters in these patient groups. Premature PAD was an independent predictor of clot permeability and maximum absorbance of a fibrin gel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostics, John Paul II Hospital, Kraków, Poland. aokraska@szpitaljp2.krakow.pl
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okraska-Bylica
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilkosz
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Słowik
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazanek
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konieczyńska
authors.forename: Anetta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Undas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D010641:Phenotype; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D005337:Fibrin