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Effect of orchidectomy on tissue plasminogen activator activity, plasminogen activator inhibition and plasmin inhibition.

The effect of unilateral or bilateral orchidectomy on tissue plasminogen activator activity (PAA), plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) and plasmin inhibition (PI) was studied in the rat. Orchidectomy was performed in young or adult rats. Unilateral orchidectomy affected only PI in the lungs and brain, 1, 2 and 3 months after orchidectomy was performed in adult rats. Bilateral orchidectomy performed in young or adult rats affected one or more of the parameters studied in one or more of the key organs (brain, lungs, kidneys, heart, aorta), in most cases only 2 and 3 months after orchidectomy. Therefore, the effect of orchidectomy on tissue PAA, PAI or PI was variable and dependent on the extent of the orchidectomy (unilateral or bilateral), the age of the animal at orchidectomy, the time after orchidectomy, and the organ.

Animals↗

Human endothelial cell migration is stimulated by urokinase plasminogen activator:plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 complex released from endometrial stromal cells stimulated with transforming growth factor beta1; possible mechanism for paracrine stimulation of endometrial angiogenesis.

Human endometrial stromal cell cultures, stimulated for two days with recombinant transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1; 10 ng/ml), contained conditioned medium concentrations of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI1), and uPA:PAI1 complex. Since a number of cellular effects have been reported to follow a binding of enzymatically inactive uPA to the receptor in different cell types, we studied the influence of uPA:PAI1 complex on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1). Increasing concentrations of uPA:PAI1 complex as well as free uPA resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of endothelial cell migration. Stimulation by the complex was of the same magnitude as that of free uPA on a molar basis and reached its maximum at 1 nM in both cell types. PAI1 by itself, however, had no effect on cell migration. The migratory response to both uPA and the uPA:PAI1 complex was inhibited by antibody adhesion to the cell surface receptor for uPA. In addition, we found that TGFss1 had a direct stimulatory effect on migration in both HUVEC and HMEC-1. This response did not, however, involve the binding of uPA to the uPA receptor. Since TGFbetas are expressed in endometrial tissue and reportedly stimulate angiogenesis in other tissues in vivo, though not endothelial cell proliferation in vitro, they may engage in the regeneration of endometrial vasculature indirectly via perivascular cells. We found that the uPA:PAI1 complex, when released from endometrial stromal cells in response to TGFbeta1, stimulated endothelial cell migration. This suggests a possible mechanism for paracrine stimulation of endometrial angiogenesis.

Cell Line↗

Great variation in the response of tissue plasminogen activator activity, plasminogen activator inhibition and plasmin inhibition to endotoxin, aspirin and endotoxin after administration of aspirin.

The effect of endotoxin, aspirin and endotoxin after administration of aspirin on the tissue plasminogen activator activity (PAA), plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) and plasmin inhibition (PI) was studied in the rat. PAA, PAI and PI were determined in key organs (brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and aorta) spectrophotometrically by procedures involving hydrolysis of the chromogenic substrate S-2251. Aspirin at three different doses had not any significant effect on tissue PAA; PAI and PI were affected in several organs. Four hours after a sustained infusion of endotoxin PAA was found to be increased in brain, kidneys and aorta, decreased in heart and lungs, while in liver the PAA was unchanged compared to controls. Changes in PAI and PI showed also a tissue variation. In endotoxin-infused rats pretreated with aspirin the PAA changes induced by endotoxin were prevented or modified; PAI and PI were affected in most organs studied. However, this effect of aspirin was varying and depending on the tissue, the parameter studied and the dose of aspirin. In some organs, as the heart and lungs, changes in PAI or PI were noticed, while neither aspirin nor endotoxin separately induced such changes in these organs. Also, a differential response of PAI and PI to the same stimulus in the same tissue was a noteworthy finding. The results of the present study show that the response of PAA, PAI and PI to aspirin depends on the tissue, the physiological or pathophysiological condition of the tissue and the dose of the aspirin.

Animals↗

Behaviour of tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and their complex in various disease states.

Plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) antigen and t-PA/PAI-1 complex were measured in plasmas from 18 healthy subjects and 75 patients with various diseases (28 patients with haematological malignancies, 20 with thrombotic diseases, five with infectious diseases, four with liver diseases, ten with bleeding disorders and eight miscellaneous conditions). In addition, we studied ten patients with bleeding disorders after DDAVP infusion and 18 healthy subjects after venous occlusion. Plasma levels of t-PA antigen, PAI-1 antigen and t-PA/PAI-1 complex were increased in the patients compared with the healthy subjects. t-PA/PAI-1 complex levels correlated well with t-PA antigen levels and molar concentrations of t-PA antigen were similar to those of the t-PA/PAI-1 complex. Venous occlusion induced an increase in both t-PA antigen and PAI-1 antigen and the molar concentration of the t-PA/PAI-1 complex was equivalent to that of t-PA antigen. Following DDAVP infusion, the levels of t-PA antigen and t-PA/PAI-1 complex increased but PAI-1 antigen levels decreased, and the increase of t-PA antigen was greater than that of t-PA/PAI-1 complex. These findings indicate that PAI-1 antigen exceeds t-PA antigen in healthy subjects and in patients with various diseases. We conclude that part of the t-PA/PAI-1 complex is rapidly cleared from the circulation and that free t-PA increases after DDAVP infusion.

Adult↗

Relationship of tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and fibrinogen with coronary artery disease in South Indian male subjects.

AIM: Prevalence rates of coronary artery disease (CAD) are reported to be very high in Asian Indians. Conventional risk factors do not explain the high rates of CAD among Indians. Recently, several newer risk factors have been reported to be associated with CAD. We measured tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and fibrinogen levels in South Indian diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with and without CAD. METHODS: Four groups of subjects were studied (all males); Group 1 comprised of non-diabetic subjects without CAD (n=50). Non-diabetic subjects with CAD formed group 2 (n=50); group 3 comprised of type 2 diabetic patients without CAD (n=50) and group 4 consisted of type 2 diabetic patients with CAD (n=50). CAD was diagnosed based on coronary angiographic evidence of severe double or triple vessel disease. RESULTS: Both diabetic and non-diabetic patients with CAD had significantly higher levels of tPA, PAI-1 and fibrinogen compared to non-diabetic without CAD (p < 0.05). Patients with CAD were distributed more in the upper tertiles of these risk factors compared to those without CAD. A strong association between tPA and PAI-1 was noted in the Pearson's correlation analysis (p < 0.001). Univariate regression analysis showed tPA (Odds ratio--1.12, p = 0.03), PAI-1 (Odds ratio--1.03, p = 0.008), fibrinogen (Odds ratio--1.01, p < 0.0001), serum cholesterol (Odds ratio--1.008, p = 0.04) and hypertension (Odds ratio--3.7, p = 0.0001) to be associated with CAD. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed hypertension (Odds ratio--4.6, 95% confidence interval--2.113-9.950, p = 0.0001) and fibrinogen (Odds ratio--1.012, 95% confidence interval--1.007-1.018, p = 0.0001) as risk factors for CAD. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that prothrombogenic risk factors particularly fibrinogen may be associated with CAD in South Indians.

Analysis of Variance↗

Relationship between tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor and CT image in chronic subdural hematoma.

The present study was performed to investigate the relationship between the concentrations of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) and the CT images in 23 cases of chronic subdural hematomas (SDHs). The concentrations of t-PA and PAI-1 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chronic SDHs were divided into five groups according to their appearance on computed tomography: high-density (n = 4), isodensity (n = 8), low-density (n = 5), mixed-density (n = 3), layering (n = 3) types. The volume of hematoma was measured with an image analyzing software program. The concentrations of t-PA were higher in layering (41.2 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, mean +/- standard error of the mean) and high-density (40.0 +/- 1.1 ng/ml) types compared to those of low-density (23.3 +/- 4.1 ng/ml) and iso-density (25.1 +/- 3.7 ng/ml) types. The concentrations of PAI-1 were lower in layering (95.9 +/- 1.0 ng/ml) and high-density (103.4 +/- 34.5 ng/ml) types compared to that of low-density (192.5 +/- 2.6 ng/ml) type. So the ratio between t-PA and PAI-1 (t-PA/PAI) was greater in layering and high-density types. The volume of hematoma was larger in mixed-density and layering types but statistically insignificant. These results presumably suggest that the ratio between t-PA and PAI concentration may contribute to the pathogenesis of the chronic SDH.

Adult↗

Fibrin D-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor, and the risk of major ischaemic heart disease in the Caerphilly Study.

Plasma levels of fibrin D-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) have been associated with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). However their associations with incident IHD in samples of the general population are not established. D-dimer antigen, tPA antigen and PAI activity were measured in stored, fasting plasma samples from 1,998 men aged 45-65 examined between 1984 and 1988, during the first re-examination of the Caerphilly Study cohort. These variables were related to major IHD events (myocardial infarction or IHD death) which occurred in 129 men during a follow-up period which averaged 61 months. Mean fibrin D-dimer was higher in men who developed IHD events (90 vs. 71 ng/ml; age-adjusted logarithmic mean difference 0.21; 95% CI 0.11, 0.30; p <0.0001). This association remained after adjusting for baseline IHD and for other risk factors including fibrinogen: the adjusted relative odds of IHD in the highest fifth of D-dimer were 3.5 (95% CI 1.8, 6.9; p = 0.0003). Mean tPA antigen was also higher in men who developed IHD (12.6 vs. 11.6 ng/ml; mean difference 0.9; 95% CI 0.2, 1.7; p = 0.02); however this difference largely disappeared after adjusting for other risk factors. PAI activity was not associated with risk of IHD.

Aged↗

Plasma von Willebrand factor, tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor, and antithrombin III levels in Behçet's disease.

Sixty-three patients with Behçet's disease (BD), 30 patients with recurrent oral ulcer and 30 healthy individuals as control group were included in the study. ISG criteria was used for the diagnosis of BD and patients were classified as active and inactive and evaluated accordingly. In the patient and control groups, von Willebrand factor (vWF), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) levels were determined using ELISA method and antithrombin III (AT-III) by nephelometric methods. High levels of endothelial product, vWF in the active Behçet patient group (p < 0.005) supports endothelial destruction due to vasculitis related with BD. In the active patient group tPA levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the inactive and control groups with higher levels of PAI (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) respectively. In Behçet disease, besides the decrease in tPA synthesis, high PAI levels also can affect tPA decrease and lead to inhibition of fibrinolytic activity. In active Behçet group, levels of AT-III were low and no significant difference was observed in recurrent oral ulcer and control groups. This situation may arise from the excessive use of AT-III in active disease. In conclusion, high levels of vWF in Behçet patients is thought to arise from vasculitis and high levels of PAI from the accumulation of thrombocytes on the damaged surface of endothelium leading to a decrease in tPA levels and inhibition of fibrinolytic activity.

Adolescent↗

Effects of gemfibrozil and ciprofibrate on plasma levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and fibrinogen in hyperlipidaemic patients.

Evaluation of fibrate treatment in humans has focused primarily on its anti-lipidaemic effects. A potentially favourable haemostasis-modulating activity of fibrates has also been recognized but the data are not consistent. We sought to learn more about this variability by examining the effects of gemfibrozil and ciprofibrate on plasma levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and fibrinogen in primary hyperlipidaemic patients after six and twelve weeks of treatment using different assay systems for PAI-1 and fibrinogen. Although both fibrates effectively lowered triglyceride and cholesterol levels, no effect on the elevated baseline antigen levels of t-PA and PAI-1 was observed after fibrate treatment. However, both fibrates influenced plasma fibrinogen levels, albeit in a different way. Fibrinogen antigen levels were elevated by 17.6% (p <0.05) and 24.3% (p <0.001) with gemfibrozil after six and twelve weeks, respectively, whereas with ciprofibrate there was no effect. Using a Clauss functional assay with either a mechanical end point or a turbidity-based end point, no significant change in fibrinogen levels was seen after six weeks of gemfibrozil treatment. However, after twelve weeks, gemfibrozil enhanced functional fibrinogen levels by 7.2% (p <0.05) as assessed by the Clauss mechanical assay, but decreased functional fibrinogen levels by 12.5% (p <0.0001) when a Clauss assay based on turbidity was used. After six or twelve weeks of ciprofibrate treatment, functional fibrinogen levels were decreased by 10.1% (p <0.001) and 10.5% (p <0.0001), respectively on the basis of Clauss mechanical and by 14.2% (p <0.001) and 28.2% (p <0.0001), respectively with the Clauss turbidimetric assay. A remarkable and consistent finding with both fibrates was the decrease in functionality of fibrinogen as assessed by the ratio of functional fibrinogen (determined by either of the two Clauss assays) to fibrinogen antigen. Taken together, our results indicate that at least part of the variability in the effects of fibrates on haemostatic parameters can be explained by intrinsic differences between various fibrates, by differences in treatment period and/or by the different outcomes of various assay systems. Interestingly, the two fibrates tested both reduced the functionality of fibrinogen.

Adult↗

Plasminogen activators, plasminogen activator inhibitor, and fibronectin in human granulosa cells and follicular fluid related to oocyte maturation and intrafollicular gonadotropin levels.

We determined the relative distribution of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) antigen, urokinase-type PA antigen, PA inhibitor activity, and fibronectin levels in lysates of human granulosa cells (GC) and the respective follicular fluid (FF) in relationship to oocyte-corona-cumulus complex morphology. In addition, FF gonadotropins were measured to investigate a possible relationship of gonadotropins to PA activity. A significant increase of TPA antigen in GC lysates of intermediate and mature oocyte-corona-cumulus complex was found when compared with immature oocyte-corona-cumulus complex. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator levels and PA inhibitor levels did not reveal any significant differences between the different groups. In FF the concentrations of PA and PA inhibitor were significantly lower than in GC lysates and showed no significant difference between the oocyte-corona-cumulus complex groups. The concentration of fibronectin was significantly elevated in GC lysates of mature follicles. The marked increase of TPA in human GC during oocyte maturation showed a positive correlation with the increase of FF follicle-stimulating hormone and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in the group of mature oocyte-corona-cumulus complex. The data obtained suggest that in man TPA is the predominant PA involved in the process leading to follicular rupture.

Adult↗

Progress of fibrinolysis during tumor necrosis factor infusions in humans. Concomitant increase in tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, and fibrin(ogen) degradation products.

Several investigators have reported that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can alter the production of plasminogen activator type-1 (PAI-1) and plasminogen activators (PAs) by endothelial cells in vitro. We have examined the in vivo effects of recombinant human TNF administration on fibrinolysis as assessed by parameters in plasma during a 24-hour period of continuous TNF infusion to 17 cancer patients with active disease. The plasma levels of PAI activity increased sevenfold after 3 and 24 hours of TNF infusion. This was the result of an increase of PAI-1 antigen; PAI-2 antigen was not detectable. Plasma concentrations of tissue-type PA (t-PA) antigen increased twofold to fivefold after 3 and 24 hours of TNF infusion, whereas urokinase-type PA antigen levels in plasma remained unaltered. After 3 hours of TNF infusion the plasma levels of alpha 2-antiplasmin were slightly decreased, 5% on average, suggesting that fibrinolysis continued. After 24 hours of TNF infusion a highly significant increase in fibrin- plus fibrinogen-degradation products, and separately of fibrin degradation products and fibrinogen degradation products, was found. This indicates that fibrinolysis persisted, at least partly, in the presence of high levels of PAI activity. Whereas PAI-1 production increased, t-PA production by human endothelial cells in vitro remains unaltered or even decreases on TNF addition. It has been shown previously that TNF infusion in our patients results in thrombin and fibrin generation. Therefore, it is possible that thrombin, not TNF, is the actual stimulus for t-PA production in our patients. We speculate that fibrin is formed during TNF infusions and that plasmin is generated by t-PA action immediately on the initial formation of (soluble) fibrin molecules. Such a process may explain the generation of degradation products of both fibrin and fibrinogen during infusion of TNF in patients.

Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products↗

Fibrinogen, coagulation factor VII, tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and lipid as cardiovascular risk factors in chronic hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

Mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are high in long-term dialysis patients. Increased levels of plasma fibrinogen (FBG), coagulation factor VII (FVII), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) as well as hyperlipidemia are regarded as important risk factors for CVD. To investigate whether there are differences in the risk of CVD between chronic hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, serum lipid levels and plasma FBG, FVII, t-PA, and PAI-1 levels were measured in 17 patients on HD and 17 patients on CAPD. FBG was measured by the thrombin time method, FVII activity (FVIIc) by the chromogenic prothrombin time method, and t-PA and PAI-1 activity by the chromogenic substrate assay. No difference was found in body mass index (BMI) between HD and CAPD patients. Total cholesterol (TC), TC/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C ratio, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-C, and triglycerides (TG) were significantly increased, and HDL-C was significantly decreased in CAPD patients compared with HD patients. FBG and FVIIc were significantly elevated in CAPD patients compared with controls or HD patients. T-PA activities were significantly higher in HD and CAPD patients than in controls. CAPD patients showed significantly higher PAI-1 activities than controls or HD patients. Significant positive correlations were found between FBG or FVIIc and TC, between FBG and LDL-C or TG, and between FVIIc and LDL-C in these patients. T-PA showed significant negative correlations with FBG, PAI-1, TC, LDL-C, and TG. There was a significant positive correlation between PAI-1 and TG and a significant negative correlation between PAI-1 and HDL-C. We conclude that CAPD patients may have a greater risk of CVD than do HD patients, and that coagulation and fibrinolytic activity are correlated with lipid disorders in these patients.

Adult↗

The effect of experimental chronic hypertension on tissue plasminogen activator activity, plasminogen activator inhibition and plasmin inhibition.

Chronic hypertension was induced in rats after partial nephrectomy. The systolic blood pressure was significantly elevated from the first week after nephrectomy to the end of the experimentation (8th week). Plasminogen activator activity (PAA) and plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) showed a tissue- and time-dependent pattern of changes in some key organs compared to controls (sham-operated rats). Two weeks after nephrectomy (one week after the induction of hypertension) the PAA was markedly increased in lungs, heart and aorta. In aorta the PAA continued to be enhanced until the end of the experimentation (the 8th week after nephrectomy), while in heart and lungs the PAA returned to the normal eight weeks after nephrectomy. In vena cava, brain and liver no change in PAA was noticed compared to controls. Tissue PAI was mostly increased or unchanged, while tissue plasmin inhibition (PI) was unchanged. The differential response of PAA and PAI was varying not only from one organ to another or in the same organ at a given time but also in the same organ throughout experimentation. In a number of nephrectomized rats, however, hypertension was not induced. In these rats similar changes in tissue PAA and PAI were noted compared to hypertensive nephrectomized rats. Therefore, all the changes in the parameters studied should be due to the partial nephrectomy itself. In conclusion, experimentally induced chronic hypertension had not any effect on tissue PAA, PAI and PI.

Animals↗

Circadian variation of plasminogen activator activity, plasminogen activator inhibition and plasmin inhibition in aorta, heart, brain and lungs of the rat. Sex-related differences.

Plasminogen activator activity (PAA), t-PA antigen level, plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) and plasmin inhibition (PI) showed a circadian variation in rat aorta, heart, brain, and lungs of both sexes, but in a different way depending on the organ and the fibrinolytic parameter studied and the sex as well. In general, the lowest values of PAA and t-PA antigen were found in the early morning and the highest values in late afternoon, while PAI or PI showed the opposite pattern (with the exception of lungs). In kidneys and liver the fibrinolytic parameters studied showed no circadian variation. Sex-related differences, mostly quantitative, were noted in aorta, heart, brain and kidneys, with lower PAA and t-PA antigen and higher PAI or PI in the male than in the female.

Animals↗

Predictive impact of urokinase-type plasminogen activator: plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 complex on the efficacy of adjuvant systemic therapy in primary breast cancer.

One of the most thoroughly studied systems in relation to its prognostic relevance in patients with breast cancer, is the plasminogen activation system. This system comprises of, among others, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its main inhibitor (PAI-1). In this study we investigated whether the uPA:PAI-1 complex is associated with the responsiveness of patients with primary breast cancer to adjuvant systemic therapy. Quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to assess the levels of uPA, PAI-1, and uPA:PAI-1 complex in 1119 tumors of patients with primary invasive breast cancer. These patients were followed for a median follow-up time of 59 months (range, 2-267 months) after the primary diagnosis. Correlations with well-known clinicopathological factors, and univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed. High uPA:PAI-1 complex levels were correlated with an adverse histological grade, and inversely associated with negative estrogen and progesterone receptor status. High tumor levels of uPA:PAI-1 complex predicted an early relapse in the univariate relapse-free survival analysis (P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis showed that high uPA:PAI-1 complex levels were associated with a decreased relapse-free survival time (P = 0.033), independently of age, tumor size, number of lymph nodes affected, progesterone receptor status, uPA, adjuvant endocrine, and chemotherapy. More important, it was demonstrated that there is a larger benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with higher versus lower tumor levels of uPA:PAI-1 complex. The results of this study imply that the expression of uPA:PAI-1 complex independently predicts the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with primary breast cancer.

Adult↗

Expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor and von Willebrand factor in the supernatant of endothelial cell cultures in response to the seeding of adenocarcinoma cell line HRT-18.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) concentrations were measured by ELISA in the supernatant of the following cultures: endothelial cells from human umbilical vein (HUVEC); human colon cancer cells (HRT-18); and co-culture cells of HUVEC + HRT-18. No measurable amount of the three substances was found in the supernatant of HRT-18 cell culture. Compared to the value in the HUVEC supernatant, in the UVEC/HRT-18 co-cultures, tPA concentration was significantly lower (P = 0.0047), PAI-1 significantly higher (P = 0.026) and vWF also significantly higher (P = 0.0048). These data indicate that HRT-18 tumor cells do not produce tPA, PAI-1 and vWF; however, these tumor cells induce endothelial cells to change the production of these substances. As a consequence, the interaction between tumor and endothelial cells in vivo may lead to depression of fibrinolysis and enhancement of platelet adhesion.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Tissue-plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor and risk of peripheral arterial disease.

In this population-based case-control study, we examined the relationship between the fibrinolytic variables tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity, cardiovascular risk factors and peripheral arterial disease. Cases and controls were selected from the Edinburgh Artery Study, a random sample survey of men and women, aged 55-74 years. Mean levels of t-PA antigen and PAI activity were significantly elevated in 121 cases compared to 126 controls. The increased risks of peripheral arterial disease with increasing PAI activity and t-PA antigen levels were partly mediated by interactions with serum triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and cigarette smoking. For example, adjustment for triglycerides significantly reduced the odds of disease for PAI activity from 1.41 (95% confidence intervals 1.08, 1.86) to 1.24 (0.93, 1.65) and from 1.47 (1.09, 1.98) to 1.34 (0.99, 1.82) for t-PA antigen. We conclude that impaired fibrinolytic potential (raised PAI activity and t-PA antigen) is associated with peripheral atherosclerosis and that this relationship is partly influenced by lipids and cigarette smoking.

Age Factors↗

Fibrinolysis in health and disease: abnormal levels of plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor, and protein C in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by widespread occluding and persistent microthrombotic lesions. Evidence for both endothelial damage and primary platelet aggregation as possible pathogenetic mechanisms has been produced. Persistence of microthrombi has not been explained satisfactorily. In patients with TTP we studied plasma fibrinolysis and protein C. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity levels, measured functionally, were low or unmeasurable in 11 of 12 patients; t-PA antigen levels, measured immunochemically, were normal in all six observed. The level of potent inhibitor of plasminogen activation directed against both t-PA and urokinase was elevated significantly in all 12, whereas the alpha 2-antiplasmin level was elevated in only two. Protein C antigen levels were low in three of six patients observed. Fibrinolysis levels in patients in remission did not differ from those in patients with acute disease. Plasma exchange resulted in temporary reversal of the abnormalities, but achievement of clinical remission was not associated with permanent normalization of fibrinolysis. Inasmuch as all 12 patients had severely depressed fibrinolytic mechanisms it is possible that a defect in the fibrin-clearing system permits thrombus formation to occur and proceed in an unchallenged fashion, thereby contributing to the complex events leading to arterial ischemia in vital organs.

Adult↗