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Aspirin and fibrinolysis in acute myocardial infarction: meta-analytic evidence for synergy.

A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials of fibrinolysis was performed, examining the interaction between aspirin and fibrinolysis in treating patients with acute myocardial infarction. Reductions in the odds of death up to 35 days were assessed for patients receiving tissue plasminogen activator or streptokinase up to 6 hours after the onset of symptoms. No significant difference in effectiveness between tissue plasminogen activator and streptokinase was demonstrated. The overall reduction in odds of death due to fibrinolytic therapy was 28%. However, there was a significant difference between the odds reduction of 24% when fibrinolysis is compared to placebo, and 40% when fibrinolysis and aspirin combined are compared to aspirin alone (p = 0.02). This difference indicates that there exists a synergistic interaction between coronary fibrinolysis and aspirin rather than independence of their beneficial effects, as is generally believed. These results illustrate the perils of assessing drug efficacy, even in an overview of all relevant trials, without consideration of identifiable sources of heterogeneity such as the interaction between the treatment of interest and co-interventions. They also demonstrate the potential application of logistic regression diagnostic techniques to meta-analyses.

Aspirin↗

On the role of coagulation and fibrinolysis in atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is probably caused by multiple interacting factors such as disturbed lipid metabolism; endothelial cell damage, leading to platelet aggregation and monocyte invasion with the release of mitogenic factors; and disorders of fibrin balance, leading to persisting fibrin deposits. Deficient fibrinolysis may (1) predispose to fibrin deposition and contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and (2) contribute to occlusive thrombus formation on fissured plaque, provoking atherothrombosis. Prospective epidemiologic studies have so far not provided definitive evidence that deficient fibrinolysis constitutes a significant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. Two recent findings, however, strongly suggest a contribution: (1) Increased lipoprotein(a) levels that reduce tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA)-mediated clot lysis are a clear risk factor for atherosclerosis; and (2) increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels in patients with disturbed glucose tolerance predispose to an accelerated development of atherosclerotic disease. However, deficient fibrinolysis constitutes a risk factor for the development of thrombotic complications (acute myocardial infarction) in patients with coronary artery disease. The potential role of deficient fibrinolysis in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and of atherothrombosis suggests that drugs normalizing deficient endogenous fibrinolysis by either reducing PAI-1 synthesis or by stimulating endogenous t-PA synthesis may be of clinical value. Although regulation of the gene expression of PAI-1 and t-PA is presently under active investigation, no potent specific and safe agents to downregulate PAI-1 or to upregulate t-PA have as yet been identified. Retinoic acid appears to be a specific inducer of t-PA synthesis in human endothelial cells in culture and may constitute a model for the development of drugs that stimulate endogenous t-PA synthesis.

Arteriosclerosis↗

The impact of cardiac ischemia and reperfusion on markers of activated haemostasis and fibrinolysis during cardiopulmonary bypass: comparison of plasma levels in arterial and coronary venous blood.

INTRODUCTION: Activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis is common among patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. Little is known, however, about the impact of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion on coagulation activation and fibrinolysis in this clinical setting. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We determined the levels of coagulation activation and fibrinolysis markers (CAFM) in 19 patients with severe coronary heart disease (CHD) during CPB surgery. FXIIa, tissue factor (TF), FVIIa, tissue plasminogen activator/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complexes (tPA/PAI-1), prothrombin fragments 1+2 (F1+2), D-dimers (DD) and plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complexes (PPI) were measured at baseline, prior to and after cardioplegic myocardial ischemia. Simultaneous blood samples were drawn from the aorta and the coronary sinus to evaluate arteriovenous CAFM plasma level gradients. RESULTS: Myocardial ischemia induced significant increases in gradients of FXIIa and F1+2 levels across the coronary circulation without influencing systemic levels of these markers significantly. Systemic levels of FXIIa, tPA/PAI-1, F1+2, DD and PPI increased significantly during CPB operation. There was a significant linear correlation between FXIIa, FVIIa, F1+2, DD and PPI. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial ischemia induces contact activation and thrombin generation rather than release of tPA and might thus contribute to postoperative thromboembolic complications. Surgery itself and CPB cause activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis as already described. A significant association between FXIIa, FVIIa, F1+2, DD and PPI suggests a relationship between contact activation, thrombin generation, fibrin formation and fibrinolysis.

Aged↗

Ultrasound enhancement of fibrinolysis at frequencies of 27 to 100 kHz.

Ultrasound (US) accelerates enzymatic fibrinolysis in vitro and in animal models, and may be a useful adjunctive therapy for clinical thrombolysis. Successful clinical application will depend on the selection of appropriate US parameters to optimize fibrinolytic enhancement while limiting adverse effects, including heating. Most studies have been done at megahertz frequencies, but tissue penetration is better and heating less at lower frequencies. We have, therefore, now investigated the effects of continuous-wave and pulsed US on fibrinolysis at midkilohertz frequencies. Fibrinolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) was measured by solubilization of radiolabeled fibrin exposed to a calibrated US field in a temperature-controlled water bath. There was significant enhancement of fibrinolysis at frequencies of 27, 40 and 100 kHz, with the greatest effect observed at 27 kHz. The largest effect was observed with continuous-wave US, but significant acceleration was also observed with peak intensities of 1 W/cm(2) duty cycles of 10% and 1%. At a 10% duty cycle, there was approximately 60% of the fibrinolytic enhancement observed with continuous-wave exposure, indicating a clear advantage of pulsing to optimize fibrinolytic effect and limit exposure. We conclude that US in the range of 27 to 100 kHz is effective in accelerating fibrinolysis at intensities and pulsing conditions that minimize the probability of heating and cavitation in clinical applications.

Analysis of Variance↗

A retrospective survey of fibrinolysis as an indicator of poor outcome after cardiopulmonary bypass and a possible early sign of systemic inflammation syndrome.

A retrospective survey was undertaken of 142 adults who had undergone cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. According to the manufacturer's instructions for thromboelastography, patients were identified as showing evidence of fibrinolysis if after coming off bypass the Ly30 index was > or =7.5%. In the 20 fibrinolytic patients, fibrinolysis was readily corrected by tranexamic acid but these patients needed more colloid and more vasopressor support than the non-fibrinolytic patients. There were three deaths, all in the fibrinolytic patients. It is possible that fibrinolysis is a marker for onset of systemic inflammation syndrome. It is recommended that, until the association between fibrinolysis and worse outcome is investigated further, patients showing fibrinolysis early after cardiopulmonary bypass should not be discharged too soon from intensive care.

Aged↗

New model for in vivo studies of pharmacological interventions with endogenous fibrinolysis: effects of thrombin inhibitors.

A new rat model for investigation of the interactions of thrombin inhibitors with endogenous fibrinolysis in vivo is described. The method utilizes the thrombin-like snake enzyme batroxobin, which mainly cleaves the fibrinopeptide A from fibrinogen and activates factor XIII only to a slight degree. Compared to thrombin-formed fibrin, batroxobin-formed fibrin is more readily lysed by plasmin, since it only cross-links fibrin to a minor extent. Radiolabeled fibrinogen (125I) was given intravenously to monitor the effects of batroxobin on fibrinogen and the effects of plasmin on the fibrin formed. Batroxobin was given intravenously in a dose that converted most fibrinogen to fibrin. Five to 10 minutes after batroxobin administration, 125I-activity in the blood decreased, indicating the disappearance of fibrinogen from the circulating blood. At the same time, the 125I activity as measured with a gamma counter increased over the lungs. The fibrin formed in the microvasculature of the lungs started an endogenous fibrinolysis. This could be seen as reappearance of the 125I activity in the blood from fibrin degradation products accompanied by a decrease in the 125I activity over the lungs. When the rats were given tranexamic acid, the endogenous fibrinolysis was markedly decreased, measured as 125I activity in the blood, over the lungs and in lung parenchyma samples. The thrombin inhibitor DuP 714, which apparently inhibits not only thrombin but also plasmin and tissue plasminogen activator, completely prevented the fibrinolytic phase. The selective thrombin inhibitor argatroban, on the other hand, led to shortened lysis time. It is concluded that the present method provides a convenient and accurate means of studying pharmacological interventions with endogenous fibrinolysis. The differential effects of selective and nonselective thrombin inhibitors on endogenous fibrinolysis at comparable levels of thrombin inhibition are clearly demonstrated.

Animals↗

Factors that control extravascular fibrinolysis.

The physiological and pathophysiological state of tissues determines the exudation of plasma proteins, hemostasis, and fibrinolysis, i.e., inflammation, injury, and malignancy. The physiological controls of extravascular fibrinolysis ultimately rest on a balance between generation of the fibrinolytic enzyme(s), i.e., plasmin, elastase, cathepsins, etc., and inhibitors of the fibrinolytic enzyme(s), i.e., plasminogen activator inhibitors, alpha-2 plasmin inhibitor, alpha 1-protease inhibitors, etc. Moreover, it is the structural modification of fibrin that determines its stability toward proteolytic enzymes and physical duress. The structural modification of fibrin involves factor XIIIa-mediated cross-linking of interfibrin chains and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor to fibrin. In turn, there are a number of agents that influence factor XIIIa catalytic activity (e.g., sulfhydryl agents, albumin, erythrocytes). The two key proenzymes, factor XIII and plasminogen, are tightly bound with the circulating fibrinogen molecules. Such high selective affinity for fibrin(ogen) provides the reaction specificity in a complex tissue fluid milieu and governs the kinetics of fibrinolysis. Any agents that interfere with such binding reactions, e.g., autoantibodies, may also affect the fibrinolytic reactions. Understanding these unique biochemical controls of factors involved in fibrinolysis may provide an insight into the complex regulatory process of extravascular fibrinolysis.

Animals↗

A possible role of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor in disturbances of fibrinolytic system in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in renal transplant recipients (RTR). Suppression of fibrinolysis plays a role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Accelerated progression of atherosclerosis and fibrinolytic system suppression has been observed in RTR. Despite many years of intensive research, the reason for impaired fibrinolysis in this patient population is not fully understood. Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a recently discovered glycoprotein combining coagulation and fibrinolysis. This study was conducted to evaluate concentrations of TAFI, markers of thrombin generation, endothelial injury, and some standard laboratory parameters in RTR receiving triple immunosuppressive drug regimen. METHODS: The study was performed in 29 stable, non-diabetic kidney transplant recipients treated with cyclosporin A, azathioprine, and prednisone and in 18 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), prothrombin fragments F1+2 (F1+2), thrombin--antithrombin complexes (TAT), plasmin--antiplasmin complexes (PAP), and TAFI were measured with commercially available kits. RESULTS: The RTR group had significantly higher plasma levels of TAT, F1+2, sTM and TAFI than the healthy volunteers. There were no differences in PAP concentrations between the two groups. Plasma sTM correlated inversely with creatinine clearance, body mass index, haemoglobin, and albumin. Plasma TAT level was positively associated with total cholesterol. TAFI antigen influenced negatively PAP antigen concentration. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our research, we concluded that elevated circulating TAFI antigen might be a new link in the pathogenesis of impaired fibrinolysis in RTR, and thus atherosclerosis progression. In the patient group there is also evidence of endothelial injury, followed by secondary activation of the coagulation cascade. Hypercholesterolaemia in RTR is associated with enhanced thrombin activity.

Adult↗

Low order correlations of lipoprotein(a) with other blood lipids and with coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters in hypertensive and diabetic patients.

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) has been established as an important independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Apolipoprotein(a), together with apo B-100 the apolipoprotein of Lp(a), is homologeous to plasminogen but lacks fibrinolytic capacity and appeared to interfere with fibrinolysis in in vitro and ex vivo experiments. We determined the correlations between Lp(a) and other blood lipids (serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides), coagulation parameters (fibrinogen, factor VII, factor VIII:C fibrin monomers, thrombin-antithrombin III) and fibrinolysis parameters (tissue plasminogen activator antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and D-dimer) in 54 patients with essential hypertension, in 65 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients and in 116 insulin-regulated diabetic patients. Signs of activated coagulation and increased reactive fibrinolysis were found in all three patient groups. In the hypertensive patients, Lp(a) was significantly correlated with LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.25, P = 0.04) and triglycerides (r = -0.30, P = 0.03), while in insulin-regulated diabetics, Lp(a) was also correlated with LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.20, P = 0.03). In the hypertensive patients and both diabetic groups there was no correlation of Lp(a) with coagulation or fibrinolysis parameters. These data show that Lp(a) concentrations are not related to coagulation or fibrinolysis parameters in hypertensive or diabetic patients and confirm the presence of an activated coagulation system in these patient groups.

Adult↗

Fibrinolysis: an unfinished agenda.

There has been a recent decline in interest in fibrinolysis, suggesting that its physiological basis is sufficiently understood and that therapeutic thrombolysis has reached its limit. The importance of the subject has not diminished since cardiovascular disease is now a leading health problem even in developing countries. Certain highlights and inconsistencies are reviewed. The clinical trials of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) revealed a major discrepancy between its fibrinolytic efficacy and its clinical benefit (the 't-PA paradox') that is unexplained. Dose-finding studies also showed that the fibrinolytic efficacy of t-PA required significant nonspecific plasminogen activation. Furthermore, the longstanding belief that t-PA is responsible for physiological fibrinolysis and urokinase-type PA (u-PA) for pericellular plasminogen activation is belied by extensive experimental animal data, but these findings have had little impact on traditional thinking. As a result, the mechanisms responsible for the u-PA paradigm of fibrinolysis have received little attention. Clinical experience with pro-u-PA remains limited and most clinical trials have used infusion rates at which pro-u-PA is largely converted systemically to urokinase. This is due to the unanticipated instability of pro-u-PA in plasma at pharmacological concentrations. Insufficient understanding of basic mechanisms of fibrinolysis has handicapped the design of chimeric or mutant activators. It is submitted that physiological fibrinolysis remains to be better defined, and that it is premature to conclude that therapeutic thrombolysis will be inevitably accompanied by side effects that undermine this method of inducing reperfusion.

Fibrinolysis↗

Characterization of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor in normal and acquired haemostatic dysfunction.

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a carboxypeptidase B-like proenzyme, which is synthesized in the liver and circulates in the blood at a concentration of about 275 nmol/l. Once activated, by thrombin or plasmin, TAFI down regulates fibrinolysis, slowing clot lysis by cleaving the C-terminal lysine and arginine residues from partially degraded fibrin. Thrombomodulin enhances thrombin activation of TAFI by more than 1000-fold, suggesting that the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex is the physiological activator of TAFI. Activated protein C can up-regulate fibrinolysis by limiting the activation of TAFI via the attenuation of thrombin production. While impairment of fibrinolysis may predispose to thrombosis, excessive fibrinolysis may result in a bleeding tendency. In acquired coagulopathies, TAFI antigen levels are reduced in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation. In focusing on women with major post-partum haemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, a significant reduction in TAFI levels is observed. The precise degree of TAFI activation is currently being characterized using new and more specific assays. The resulting data may provide insight into therapeutic options to treat post-partum haemorrhage, which is associated with significant morbidity.

Adult↗

Effects of psychological stress and psychiatric disorders on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis: a biobehavioral pathway to coronary artery disease?

OBJECTIVE: A hypercoagulable state before overt thrombosis resulting from an imbalance between the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems is related to cardiovascular disease progression and acute coronary syndromes. Psychological stressors and depressive and anxiety disorders also are associated with coronary artery disease. This review explores whether changes in blood coagulation, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic activity may constitute psychobiological pathways that link psychological factors with coronary syndromes. METHODS: Literature on coagulation, anticoagulation, and fibrinolysis measures in conjunction with psychological factors (mental stress, psychosocial strain, and psychiatric disorders) was identified by MEDLINE search back to 1966 and through checking the bibliographies of these sources. Sixty-eight articles were critically reviewed. RESULTS: In healthy subjects, acute mental stress simultaneously activates coagulation (ie, fibrinogen or von Willebrand factor) and fibrinolysis (ie, tissue-type plasminogen activator) within a physiological range. In patients with atherosclerosis and impaired endothelial anticoagulant function, however, procoagulant responses to acute stressors may outweigh anticoagulant mechanisms and thereby promote a hypercoagulable state. Chronic psychosocial stressors (job strain or low socioeconomic status) are related to a hypercoagulable state reflected by increased procoagulant molecules (ie, fibrinogen or coagulation factor VII) and by reduced fibrinolytic capacity. There is also some evidence that points to hypercoagulability in depression. CONCLUSIONS: Different categories of psychological measures to varying extent are associated with characteristic patterns of coagulation and fibrinolysis activity. Associations between psychological factors and several coagulation and fibrinolysis variables related to atherosclerosis provide a plausible biobehavioral link to coronary artery disease.

Anxiety Disorders↗

Ethanol impairs coagulation and fibrinolysis in whole blood: a study performed with rotational thromboelastometry.

The objective was to study the effects of ethanol on coagulation and fibrinolysis in whole blood. Blood samples from healthy volunteers were analyzed before and after in-vitro addition of ethanol in order to achieve ethanol concentrations of 0, 1, 2 and 4 per thousand, respectively (0, 22, 44 and 88 mmol/l). Coagulation and fibrinolysis were then assessed using rotational thromboelastometry. We found that increasing ethanol levels increasingly impaired coagulation as evaluated with rotational thromboelastometry, with a maximum prolongation of the clot formation time of 118% at an ethanol level of 4 per thousand (P < 0.000001). We also found a very strong impairment of fibrinolysis already at an ethanol level of 1 per thousand. This is the first study assessing the effects of ethanol on coagulation and fibrinolysis in a whole blood model. The impairment of coagulation is similar in nature to the impairment found in patients suffering from hypothermia. The impairment is at a level that may be of clinical importance (e.g. in patients suffering from trauma). The inhibition of fibrinolysis is obvious already at an ethanol level of 1 per thousand and it may be a contributing factor to the increased amount of coronary and cerebrovascular ischemic events after binge drinking.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Validation of rotation thrombelastography in a model of systemic activation of fibrinolysis and coagulation in humans.

BACKGROUND: Thrombelastography (TEG) is a whole blood assay to evaluate the viscoelastic properties during blood clot formation and clot lysis. Rotation thrombelastography (e.g. ROTEM) has overcome some of the limitations of classical TEG and is used as a point-of-care device in several clinical settings of coagulation disorders. Endotoxemia leads to systemic activation of the coagulation system and fibrinolysis in humans. OBJECTIVES: We validated whether ROTEM is sensitive to endotoxin induced, tissue factor-triggered coagulation and fibrinolysis and if its measures correlate with biohumoral markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty healthy male volunteers participated in this randomized placebo-controlled trial. Volunteers received either 2 ng kg(-1) National Reference Endotoxin or saline. RESULTS: Endotoxemia significantly shortened ROTEM clotting time (CT) by 36% (CI 0.26-0.46; P < 0.05) with a strong inverse correlation with the peak plasma levels of prothrombin fragments (F(1 + 2)) (r = -0.83, P < 0.05). Additionally, endotoxin infusion enhanced maximal lysis (ML) 3.9-fold (CI: 2.5-5.2) compared with placebo or baseline after 2 h (P < 0.05). Peak ML and peak tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) values correlated excellently (r = 0.82, P < 0.05). ROTEM parameters clot formation time and maximal clot firmness were not affected by LPS infusion, whereas platelet function analyzer (PFA-100) closure times decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Rotation thrombelastography (ROTEM) detects systemic changes of in vivo coagulation activation, and importantly it is a point of care device, which is sensitive to changes in fibrinolysis in humans. The ex vivo measures CT and ML correlate very well with established in vivo markers of coagulation activation (F(1 + 2)) and fibrinolysis (t-PA), respectively.

Adult↗

Functional hierarchy of plasminogen kringles 1 and 4 in fibrinolysis and plasmin-induced cell detachment and apoptosis.

Plasmin(ogen) kringles 1 and 4 are involved in anchorage of plasmin(ogen) to fibrin and cells, an essential step in fibrinolysis and pericellular proteolysis. Their contribution to these processes was investigated by selective neutralization of their lysine-binding function. Blocking the kringle 1 lysine-binding site with monoclonal antibody 34D3 fully abolished binding and activation of Glu-plasminogen and prevented both fibrinolysis and plasmin-induced cell detachment-induced apoptosis. In contrast, blocking the kringle 4 lysine-binding site with monoclonal antibody A10.2 did not impair its activation although it partially inhibited plasmin(ogen) binding, fibrinolysis and cell detachment. This remarkable, biologically relevant, distinctive response was not observed for plasmin or Lys-plasminogen; each antibody inhibited their binding and activation of Lys-plasminogen to a limited extent, and full inhibition of fibrinolysis required simultaneous neutralization of both kringles. Thus, in Lys-plasminogen and plasmin, kringles 1 and 4 act as independent and complementary domains, both able to support binding and activation. We conclude that Glu-/Lys-plasminogen and plasmin conformations are associated with transitions in the lysine-binding function of kringles 1 and 4 that modulate fibrinolysis and pericellular proteolysis and may be of biological relevance during athero-thrombosis and inflammatory states. These findings constitute the first biological link between plasmin(ogen) transitions and functions.

Animals↗

Fibrinolysis defect in long-term hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its relation to metabolic disorders.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) secondary to diabetes mellitus show a high incidence of atherosclerosis with its thrombotic complications. Both CRF and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) results in fibrinolysis defects causally related to atherogenesis and thrombogenesis. It is not well known whether or not and, if so, how fibrinolysis is altered in patients with both CRF and DM2. Our study was designed (1) to identify the fibrinolysis defect present in patients with DM2-mediated CRF and treated by long-term hemodialysis (DM2HD), and (2) to establish whether the fibrinolysis defect is related to the metabolic abnormalities observed in CRF or DM2. METHODS: Sixteen DM2HD patients and 23 healthy individuals (HI) had their euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT), and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activities (act) and concentrations (ag) assessed before and after standard fibrinolytic stimulus (i.v. administration of 0.4 microg/kg BW 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin, DDAVP) along with metabolic status markers. RESULTS: DDAVP caused a significant shortening of ECLT, rises in tPA act and ag, and a significant decrease in PAI-1 act. PAI-1 ag declined significantly in HI, but not in DM2HD. A comparison of responses to DDAVP revealed the groups differed significantly in the change in PAI-1 ag. Whereas, in HI, PAI-1 ag decreased by 11.8 ng/ml, no decrease was seen in DM2HD (0.0 ng/ml) (p < 0.0001; medians given; unpaired Wilcoxon's test). Stepwise regression analysis showed the change in PAI-1 ag was highly group-specific (DM2HD vs. HI, regression coefficient 21.22; partial correlation 0.58; p < 0.0001) and, also dependent on the serum concentrations of apolipoprotein A-I (-32.41; -0.46; p < 0.01) and homocysteine (0.35; 0.36; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with type 2 DM and CRF on long-term hemodialysis have a fibrinolysis defect manifesting itself after standard fibrinolytic stimulus by an insufficient decrease in PAI-1 concentrations. The defect is related to decreased serum levels of apolipoprotein A-I and increased serum levels of homocysteine. The defect might be a factor contributing to accelerated atherosclerosis and thrombotic complications in these patients.

Aged↗

Clinical significance of accelerated fibrinolysis in liver disease.

We compared site and severity of bleeding in 46 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and accelerated fibrinolysis (defined as a dilute whole-blood clot lysis time less than 2 h) to 44 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and normal fibrinolysis (dilute whole-blood clot lysis time greater than 4 h). Patients with accelerated fibrinolysis had a significantly higher incidence of severe soft-tissue bleeding after trauma and a trend toward increased intracranial bleeding. Mucosal, postoperative, and gastrointestinal bleeding were equally frequent in the two groups. The median partial thromboplastin time was significantly longer, and the median bilirubin and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product levels were significantly higher in the group with accelerated fibrinolysis, but median prothrombin time, platelet count, and levels of fibrinogen and serum albumin were comparable. The fibrinolytic inhibitor epsilon-aminocaproic acid successfully controlled bleeding in 4 of 6 cases used. Accelerated fibrinolysis may predispose patients with cirrhosis to soft-tissue and intracranial bleeding.

Bilirubin↗

Delayed fibrinolysis: a cause of thrombosis?

On a theoretical basis, delayed fibrinolysis has always been assumed to allow a harmless, or rather, useful clotting process to develop into manifest thrombosis. Since the early sixties, when most modern concepts on fibrinolysis were postulated, the evidence for a causal relationship between impaired fibrinolysis and venous thrombosis has not become much stronger. On the other hand, several observations indicate an association between impaired fibrinolysis and arterial thrombosis. Recent years have witnessed a flare-up of interest in fibrinolytic therapy, especially of acute coronary artery thrombosis, and thanks to the availability of human tissue-type plasminogen activator, expansion of its field of application is to be expected. However, with drugs for maintenance enhancement of fibrinolysis still being out of reach, we rely on the well-established oral anticoagulant regimen for the prophylaxis of thrombosis in patients with an obvious thrombotic disposition.

Fibrinolysis↗