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Biomedical subjects

A Siegbahn

Publications and source records attributed to A Siegbahn.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Myocardial damage, inflammation and thrombin inhibition in unstable coronary artery disease.

AIM: Unstable coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease involving both thrombotic and inflammatory processes. We have assessed the time-course and the influence of thrombin inhibitors on changes in fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels, and their relation to myocardial ischaemia in unstable CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty patients were randomized to 72 h infusion with three different doses of inogatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor, or unfractionated heparin. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups in fibrinogen or C-reactive protein levels. Overall, the fibrinogen levels were significantly increased in the first 24-96 h and still elevated at 30 days. The C-reactive protein levels showed a more pronounced increase during the first 24-96 h, but then markedly decreased over 30 days. Troponin-positive compared to troponin-negative patients had higher fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels up to 96 h, although there was an increase compared to pre-treatment levels in both groups. A high fibrinogen level (pre-treatment top tertile) was associated with an increased rate of death or myocardial (re-)infarction at 30 days, 13% vs 5.6%, P=0.03, and increased long-term mortality. A high C-reactive protein level was related to increased 30-day mortality, 4% vs 0%, P=0.01. CONCLUSION: Myocardial cell injury was related to a high degree of inflammation, only some of which is an acutephase response due to tissue damage. The rise in fibrinogen was sustained, which might reflect low grade inflammation with long-term risk of thrombosis. The transient elevation of C-reactive protein levels might indicate a propensity to a pronounced inflammatory response and is associated with increased mortality.

Adult↗

Low utilisation of unactivated protein C in a patient with meningococcal septic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

BACKGROUND: Activated protein C has recently been shown in a multicentre trial to significantly reduce mortality in patients with septic shock. There are also some case reports and minor studies demonstrating promising results with the unactivated form of protein C. However, in children with severe meningococcal infection, skin biopsies have demonstrated low expression of endothelial thrombomodulin and protein C receptors, suggesting low protein C activation capacity in severe meningococcal sepsis. METHODS: A patient with meningococcal septic shock was treated with two doses of the unactivated form of protein C, the first during intense activation of the coagulation system and the second during a phase of low grade or no activation. Repeated plasma samples were analysed for protein C concentration, which made it possible to compare pharmacokinetics and half-lives of the two administrations. A shorter half-life during intense coagulation was expected if there was an activation and consumption of the protein C administered. RESULTS: The calculated half-lives of protein C during intense and low grade activation were 32 h and 19 h, respectively, a magnitude similar to that reported in protein C-deficient patients without infection. CONCLUSION: The result indicates that whole body utilisation of the unactivated protein C was low. Endothelial impairment of protein C activation does not seem to be restricted to the skin vessels only.

Adult↗

Cell adhesion and tissue factor upregulation in oxygenators used during coronary artery bypass grafting are modified by the Corline Heparin Surface.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with inflammatory response and activation of coagulation. We investigated the influence of a new heparin surface on the activation of cells retrieved from oxygenators used during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). DESIGN: Sixty patients undergoing CABG with CPB were randomly assigned to either uncoated or completely Corline Heparin Surface (CHS)-coated circuits with one of three different levels of systemic heparin: standard, high or low. At end of surgery adhered cells were retrieved from the oxygenators and cell count, tissue factor (TF)- and CD11b-expression on monocytes and monocytic TFmRNA were analysed. RESULTS: The heparin coating of the oxygenator prevented adhesion of granulocytes, monocytes and platelets. TF-expression on monocytes from the oxygenators was significantly higher than on circulating cells in all groups. Monocytes from the uncoated oxygenators showed low levels of TF-expression with high levels of TFmRNA. The coated group with high level of heparin showed higher surface-expression of TF with low levels of TFmRNA. CONCLUSION: The CHS was most biocompatible with the standard level of heparin used during CABG whereas elevation of systemic heparin rather increased the activation and TF upregulation in monocytes from oxygenators.

Aged↗

Relationship between interleukin 6 and mortality in patients with unstable coronary artery disease: effects of an early invasive or noninvasive strategy.

CONTEXT: Inflammatory activity is associated with high rates of long-term mortality in unstable coronary artery disease (CAD). Interleukin 6 (IL-6) induces C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, systemic markers of inflammation. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether plasma levels of IL-6 are predictive of mortality and to evaluate the interaction of IL-6 levels with the effects of invasive vs noninvasive treatment strategies in unstable CAD patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: The prospective, randomized Fragmin and Fast Revascularisation During Instability in Coronary Artery Disease II trial, conducted among 3489 patients, 3269 of whom had plasma samples analyzed for IL-6 levels, with diagnosed unstable CAD (67% male; median age, 67 years) at 58 Scandinavian hospitals between June 1996 and August 1998. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either an early invasive (n = 1222) or a noninvasive treatment strategy (n = 1235). The latter group, as well as 666 patients with contraindications to invasive therapy, were further randomized to 90-day treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin (dalteparin, 5000-7500 IU twice per day; n = 1140) or placebo (n = 1127). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mortality at 6 and 12 months in the medically and interventionally randomized cohorts, respectively, in relation to IL-6 levels, measured at randomization. RESULTS: Plasma levels of IL-6 that were at least 5 ng/L compared with levels lower than 5 ng/L were associated with greatly increased mortality in the noninvasive group (7.9% vs 2.3%; relative risk [RR], 3.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.94-6.21) and in the placebo-treated group (7.9% vs 2.5%; RR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.77-5.74). The association remained significant after adjustment for most established risk indicators. An early invasive treatment strategy strongly reduced 12-month mortality among those with elevated IL-6 levels (5.1% absolute reduction; P =.004) whereas mortality was not reduced among patients without elevated IL-6 concentrations. Those taking dalteparin with elevated IL-6 levels experienced lower 6-month mortality than those who did not take dalteparin (3.5% absolute reduction; P =.08). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating IL-6 is a strong independent marker of increased mortality in unstable CAD and identifies patients who benefit most from a strategy of early invasive management.

Adult↗

Blood cell activation, coagulation, and inflammation in men and women with coronary artery disease.

We investigated in some detail the immunologic and procoagulant activation patterns in men and women with unstable (UA, n=26) versus stable (SA, n=40) coronary artery disease (CAD). Leukocyte activation and platelet-leukocyte complex formation were assessed by flow cytometry. Plasma markers of coagulation and inflammation were analyzed. Unstable patients displayed higher levels of platelet-leukocyte complexes (P<.001), of leukocyte CD11b (P<.01), and of T cell HLA-DR (P<.05) than healthy controls did. Female UA patients presented the highest degree of complexes. SA patients only differed significantly from controls with respect to HLA-DR (P=.02). UA patients had higher levels of C-reactive protein (P<.01), IL-6 (P<.001), IL-10 (P<.01), and soluble fibrin (P<.001) than did stable ones. Regarding P-selectin levels, 25% of SA and 50% of UA patients were above normal range. Again, UA women presented the highest marker amounts. As for soluble tissue factor, women had higher levels than men regardless of the severity of disease (P<.001 in SA). We conclude that in unstable coronary syndromes, there is an activation of both coagulation and inflammation that coincides with an increased activation of platelets and leukocytes. Cellular interactions may contribute to the systemic responses observed. Women have different patterns of cellular activation than men, indicating differences in pathogenetic mechanisms.

Aged↗

Coagulation and fibrinolysis in chronic venous insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Varicose veins (VV) are common, but only some patients will develop chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) with skin changes or venous ulcer. The pathophysiology of venous ulcer development is complex, and may involve abnormalities in coagulation, fibrinolysis and proinflammatory cytokines. The purpose of this study was to correlate plasma markers within these systems and skin pathology. METHOD: A group of twenty consecutive patients with active or recent venous ulcer were matched for sex and age with further three groups of individuals i.e. controls and patients with VV with and without skin changes respectively. Blood samples were analysed for hemoglobin (HB), total platelet count (TPC), C-reactive protein (CRP), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin complex (PT), fibrinogen, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), D-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), prothrombin fragments 1 and 2 (F1 + 2), and thrombin antithrombin III complex (TAT). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was an increase of systemic levels of PAI-1 activity and tPA with progressive skin pathology in patients with CVI, and in the group with active ulcer there was an elevation of F1 + 2. Those findings could reflect a defect fibrinolysis, a thrombotic potential or a damaged endothelium.

Aged↗

Coagulation activity and clinical outcome in unstable coronary artery disease.

In the current study, we investigated molecular markers of coagulation activity, ie, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complex, soluble fibrin (SF), and D-dimer, and their relation to death, myocardial infarction, and refractory angina during and after anticoagulant treatment in unstable coronary artery disease. Patients with unstable coronary artery disease (N=320) were randomized to a 72-hour infusion with either inogatran, a low-molecular-mass direct thrombin inhibitor, or unfractionated heparin. During the 30-day follow-up, a 40% lower event rate was seen in patients with high compared with low baseline levels of TAT or SF. High baseline levels of coagulation activity were correlated with a larger decrease during treatment. Patients with decreased compared with raised F1+2 or TAT levels after 6 hours of treatment had a 50% lower event rate at 30 days (F1+2, P=0.04; TAT, P=0.02). At the cessation of antithrombin treatment, there was a clustering of cardiac events that tended to be related to a rise in the levels of TAT and the other markers. During long-term follow-up (median, 29 months), there was a relation between higher baseline levels of D-dimer (P=0.003) and increased mortality. High baseline levels of molecular markers of coagulation activity might identify patients with a thrombotic condition (as the major cause of instability) who are good responders to anticoagulant therapy, with a larger decrease in coagulation activity during treatment and a decreased risk of ischemic events. However, this early benefit is lost during long-term follow-up when high baseline levels of coagulation activity are associated with a raised risk of early reactivation and increased mortality.

Adult↗

Binding of factor VIIa to tissue factor on human fibroblasts leads to activation of phospholipase C and enhanced PDGF-BB-stimulated chemotaxis.

Tissue factor (TF) is the cellular receptor for factor FVIIa (FVIIa), and the complex is the principal initiator of blood coagulation. The effects of FVIIa binding to TF on cell migration and signal transduction of human fibroblasts, which express high amounts of TF, were studied. Fibroblasts incubated with FVIIa migrated toward a concentration gradient of PDGF-BB at approximately 100 times lower concentration than do fibroblasts not ligated with FVIIa. Anti-TF antibodies inhibited the increase in chemotaxis induced by FVIIa/TF. Moreover, a pronounced suppression of chemotaxis induced by PDGF-BB was observed with active site-inhibited FVIIa (FFR-FVIIa). The possibility that hyperchemotaxis was induced by a putative generation of FXa and thrombin activity was excluded. FVIIa/TF did not induce increased levels of PDGF beta-receptors on the cell surface. Thus, the hyperchemotaxis was not a result of this mechanism. FVIIa induced the production of inositol-1,4, 5-trisphosphate to the same extent as PDGF-BB; the effects of FVIIa and PDGF-BB were additive. FFR-FVIIa did not induce any release of inositol-1,4,5,-trisphosphate. Thus, binding of catalytically active FVIIa to TF can, independent of coagulation, modulate cellular responses, such as chemotaxis.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

Markers of myocardial damage and inflammation in relation to long-term mortality in unstable coronary artery disease. FRISC Study Group. Fragmin during Instability in Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: In patients with unstable coronary artery disease, there is a relation between the short-term risk of death and blood levels of troponin T (a marker of myocardial damage) and C-reactive protein and fibrinogen (markers of inflammation). Using information obtained during an extension of the follow-up period in the Fragmin during Instability in Coronary Artery Disease trial, we evaluated the usefulness of troponin T, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen levels and other indicators of risk as predictors of the long-term risk of death from cardiac causes. METHODS: Levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen at enrollment and the maximal level of troponin T during the first 24 hours after enrollment were analyzed in 917 patients included in a clinical trial of low-molecular-weight heparin in unstable coronary artery disease. The patients were followed for a mean of 37.0 months (range, 1.6 to 50.6). RESULTS: During follow-up, 1.2 percent of the 173 patients with maximal blood troponin T levels of less than 0.06 microg per liter died of cardiac causes, as compared with 8.7 percent of the 367 patients with levels of 0.06 to 0.59 microg per liter and 15.4 percent of the 377 patients with levels of at least 0.60 microg per liter (P=0.007 and P=0.001, respectively). The rates of death from cardiac causes were 5.7 percent among the 314 patients with blood C-reactive protein levels of less than 2 mg per liter, 7.8 percent among the 294 with levels of 2 to 10 mg per liter, and 16.5 percent among the 309 with levels of more than 10 mg per liter (P=0.29 and P=0.001, respectively). The rates of death from cardiac causes were 5.4 percent among the 314 patients with blood fibrinogen levels of less than 3.4 g per liter, 12.0 percent among the 300 with levels of 3.4 to 3.9 g per liter, and 12.9 percent among the 303 with levels of at least 4.0 g per liter (P=0.004 and P=0.69, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, levels of troponin T and C-reactive protein were independent predictors of the risk of death from cardiac causes. CONCLUSIONS: In unstable coronary artery disease, elevated levels of troponin T and C-reactive protein are strongly related to the long-term risk of death from cardiac causes. These markers are independent risk factors, and their effects are additive with respect to each other and other clinical indicators of risk.

Age Factors↗

Coagulation activation after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in spite of thromboembolism prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), in spite of its minimally invasive nature, causes coagulation activation. METHODS: Sixty-four patients undergoing LC were included prospectively. All received either dextran or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). Blood samples taken the morning of the operation and the following morning were analyzed for TAT, FM, fragment 1+2, tPA, PAI-1, vWf, D-dimer, Hb, hematocrit, and APC resistance. RESULTS: Significant increases in TAT, FM, fragment 1+2, and D-dimer were seen, whereas APC resistance, Hb, and hematocrit decreased significantly. Dextran led to a decrease in vWf and no change in tPA, whereas LMWH led to an increase in both these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy causes coagulation activation. There are differences in the response between patients receiving dextran and LMWH as thromboembolism prophylaxis. Since most patients are discharged the day after the operation, there could be practical as well as theoretical advantages to using dextran.

Adult↗

No benefit of reduced heparinization in thoracic aortic operation with heparin-coated bypass circuits.

BACKGROUND: Heparin coating of the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit attenuates inflammatory response and confer clinical benefits in cardiac operations. The positive effects may be amplified with reduced systemic heparin dosage. We studied markers of inflammation and coagulation in thoracic aortic operations with heparin-coated circuits and standard vs reduced systemic heparinization. METHODS: Thirty patients were randomized to standard (group S; 300 IU/kg initially; activated clotting times [ACT] > 480 seconds; 5,000 IU in prime; n = 16) or reduced (group R; 100 IU/kg initially; ACT > 250 seconds; 2,500 IU in prime; n = 14) dose systemic heparin. The following markers were analyzed perioperatively: (a) inflammatory response; acute phase cytokine interleukin-6, and granulocytic proteins myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin; (b) complement activation; factor C3a and the C5a-9 terminal complement complex [TCC]; and (c) coagulation; thrombin-antithrombin III complex. RESULTS: The clinical outcome did not differ between groups. Four (29%) patients in group R had a perioperative thromboembolic event. All studied markers were significantly elevated during and throughout cardiopulmonary bypass in both groups. Maximal values were higher in group R for all variables except for TCC. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences regarding markers of inflammation, complement activation, or coagulation activation. CONCLUSIONS: The blood trauma in thoracic aortic operation is extensive, as reflected by the elevation of the studied biochemical markers, even when heparin-coated cardiopulmonary bypass circuits are used. In this study, we did not detect any benefits, either biochemical or clinical, of reducing the dose of systemic heparin.

Aged↗

The role of RAR and RXR activation in retinoid-induced tissue factor suppression.

Excessive expression of tissue factor (TF) is a common finding in leukaemic cells and may contribute to thrombotic complications in patients. Retinoic acid has been shown to induce differentiation and reduce TF expression in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) cells in vitro, and to induce remission in APL patients. Treatment of the APL cell line NB4 with the specific retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RARalpha) agonists Ro4-6055 or TTNPB resulted in down-regulation of TF expression and in induction of differentiation. The activation of RARbeta, RARgamma or retinoid X receptor (RXR) did not suppress the constitutive TF expression in NB4 cells. Moreover, the RARalpha antagonist Ro41-5253 blocked the retinoid-induced down-regulation of TF. In contrast, in the monoblastic U-937 cell line only a partial suppression of TF antigen expression and activity was observed by treatment with the RAR agonist TTNPB or the RXR agonist SR11237 alone. However, the combination of TTNPB and SR11237 resulted in a pronounced down-regulation of TF expression and induction of differentiation in U-937 cells. We show for the first time that the activation of both subunits of the RARalpha-RXR transcriptional complex is needed for TF suppression in U-937 cells, whereas in NB4 cells RARalpha activation alone is sufficient. Thus, distinct molecular mechanisms for TF suppression seem to be operating in leukaemic cell lines of different origin.

Base Sequence↗

Markers of hypercoagulation and von Willebrand factor in postmenopausal women with unstable coronary artery disease. Discriminatory ability regarding unstable coronary artery disease and coronary atherosclerosis using receiver operating characteristics.

OBJECTIVES: Many women with typical anginal chest pain have normal coronary angiograms. The pathogenetic mechanisms behind the chest pain in these patients are unknown but may be due to increased thrombogenicity. We evaluated markers of hypercoagulation and thrombosis in women with clinical signs of unstable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 158 patients with unstable CAD and 101 controls were examined: 16% of the patients had normal vessels and 84% had coronary atherosclerosis at coronary angiography. Mean plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor antigen, soluble fibrin (SF), thrombin-antithrombin complex and D-dimer were significantly higher, whereas there was no difference regarding prothrombin fragment 1+2 between patients and controls. Patients with coronary atherosclerosis had higher mean plasma levels for most variables compared with those with normal coronary vessels, although only significantly higher for SF. D-Dimer was significantly higher in patients with normal coronary vessels compared with the control group. Although multivariate analyses showed strong significant correlations of the haemostatic variables to the diagnosis of unstable CAD, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) revealed that none of the variables represented high diagnostic accuracy in separating patients with unstable CAD. Likewise, none of the variables was particularly good at identifying coronary atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: Our results are in favour of a hypercoagulable state in postmenopausal women with unstable CAD and coronary atherosclerosis, whereas this does not seem to be the case in patients with normal vessels. ROC revealed no variable to be particularly clinically useful in separating patients from controls or patients from those without coronary atherosclerosis.

Aged↗

Haemostasis in patients with Behçet's disease.

AIM: to determine whether Behçet's disease affects haemostatic function. SETTING: University Hospital, Turkey. PATIENTS: one hundred and twenty-seven consecutive patients with Behçet's disease, 34 of whom with a history of vascular involvement. METHODS: prothrombin fragment 1+2 tissue plasminogen activator, protein S and C, antithrombin, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, thrombomodulin and prothrombin time (PT) were measured in patient plasma. RESULTS: soluble thrombomodulin was significantly lower and von Willebrand factor (vWF) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) significantly higher in Behçet's patients. Patients with vascular involvement showed the highest levels of vWF and tPA. There was no activation of coagulation, not even in patients with an active disease at the time of sampling. CONCLUSION: there were indirect signs of endothelial activity or damage, particularly in patients with vascular involvement. Coagulation was not activated.

Adult↗

Heparin-coated cardiopulmonary bypass circuits reduce circulating complement factors and interleukin-6 in paediatric heart surgery.

Children are sensitive to the inflammatory side effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Our intention was to investigate if the biocompatibility benefits of heparin-coated CPB circuits apply to children. In 20 operations, 19 children were randomized to heparin-coated (group HC, n = 10) or standard (group C, n = 10) bypass circuits. Plasma levels of acute phase reactants, interleukins, granulocytic proteins and complement factors were measured. All were significantly elevated after CPB. Levels of complement factor C3a (851 (791-959)ng/ml [median with quartiles] in group C, 497 (476-573)ng/ml in group HC, p < 0.001), Terminal Complement Complex (114 (71-130) AU/ml in group C, 35.5 (28.9-51.4) AU/ml in group HC, p < 0.001), and interleukin-6 (570 (203-743) pg/ml in group C, 168 (111-206)pg/ml in group HC, p = 0.005), were significantly reduced in group HC. Heparin-coated CPB circuits improve the biocompatibility of CPB during heart surgery in the paediatric patient population, as reflected by significantly reduced levels of circulating complement factors and interleukin-6.

Anticoagulants↗

Cellular consequences upon factor VIIa binding to tissue factor.

Tissue factor (TF) is a cell-surface-bound glycoprotein that binds the zymogen, factor (F) VII, and the active serine protease, FVIIa. The FVIIa/TF complex is the major activator of coagulation in vivo. Under normal physiological conditions, TF is expressed only on extravascular sites and perivascularly in the adventitial layer of blood vessels. Although not normally expressed by cells within the circulation, TF can be induced in monocytes and endothelial cells. Also, several malignant cells express high levels of TF. Recent reports have shown that FVIIa binding to TF can influence a number of biological functions, such as angiogenesis and cancer metastasis. TF also seems to play an important role in cell adhesion and migration. The intracellular signalling is independent of downstream activation of the blood coagulation cascade. FVIIa/TF seems to transduce signalling by two distinct mechanisms: one independent of the cytoplasmatic domain but dependent on the proteolytic activity of FVIIa, and one dependent on the cytoplasmatic domain of TF.

Animals↗

Role of platelet P-selectin and CD40 ligand in the induction of monocytic tissue factor expression.

Activated platelets can express CD40 ligand (CD40L) and trigger inflammatory response and tissue factor (TF) expression in endothelial cells through interaction with CD40. This pathway is also important for T cell-induced monocyte and endothelial cell procoagulant activity. We have studied the potential role of the CD40-CD40L pathway in platelet-induced TF expression in a monocytic cell line and in whole-blood monocytes. In vitamin D(3)-differentiated U-937 cells, thrombin-stimulated platelets increased TF expression as measured by mRNA quantification, flow cytometry, and procoagulant activity. Maximum antigen expression occurred after 2 hours. Neutralizing anti-P-selectin antibody yielded a 50% suppression of procoagulant activity, whereas antibody to CD40L had no effect. In thrombin receptor activator-stimulated citrated blood, monocytes were up to 77% TF-positive, with peak expression after only 15 minutes. However, no TF mRNA was detectable at that time. Anti-P-selectin antibody reduced TF by 50%, whereas antibody to CD40L gave a 17% reduction. Thus, we conclude that P-selectin exposed on activated platelets induces the expression of TF in both U-937 cells and whole-blood monocytes but by different mechanisms. Platelet CD40L does not display any significant effect on U-937 cells but may be of some importance on whole-blood monocytes. This suggests a possible functional difference between U-937 and monocyte CD40. Another important finding in this study is the rapid appearance of surface TF on monocytes without detectable mRNA formation. This indicates that TF may be stored intracellularly in these cells and can be exposed on the surface independent of de novo protein synthesis.

Antibodies↗

Coagulation and fibrinolysis after open infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a long-term perspective.

In patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems have been found to be activated preoperatively. Does the increased activity of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems persist after AAA surgery in a long-term perspective? Prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), human plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, and human cross-linked fibrin degradation product (D-dimer) were analysed in 18 patients after open AAA surgery (postop-AAA). The median time between surgery and blood sampling was 19 months (range, 5-37 months). Comparisons were made with both preoperative values of 23 patients with AAA (preop-AAA) as well as 20 age-matched healthy controls (AMC). F1+2, TAT, and D-dimer in preop-AAA were significantly higher compared to AMC (p<0.001). In post-op AAA patients these parameters were significantly lower compared to preop-AAA (p<0.05 for F1+2 and TAT, p<0.001 for D-dimer). However, TAT and D-dimer levels were still higher in postop-AAA than in AMC (p<0.01 for both). The activity of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems seems to decrease after AAA surgery. However, the activity is still higher than in healthy AMC. A possible explanation may be that the thrombogenicity is lower in a vascular graft than in an aneurysmal sac but still higher than in a nonaneurysmal aorta.

Aged↗