Fibrinolysis and lipoprotein(a) in women with coronary artery disease. Influence of hormone replacement therapy.

Background And Objectives: The incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is higher in post-menopausal than in pre-menopausal women. Epidemiological studies suggest that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women. HRT could modify the cardiovascular risk via several mechanisms, including modifications in the fibrinolytic system and lipoprotein (a) levels.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) promoter 4G/5G genotype and increased PAI-1 circulating levels in postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease.

Increased circulating levels of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) have been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, genetic and environmental determinants of PAI-1 expression are only partially understood. The levels of PAI-1 have been found to relate to 4/5 guanosine (4G/5G) polymorphism in the promoter region of the PAI-1 gene.

Influence of a rehabilitation sports programme on the fibrinolytic activity of patients after myocardial infarction.

The influence of regular physical exercise on fibrinolysis was studied in two groups of patients after myocardial infarction. The two groups were of similar age and living habits. One of the groups took part in a rehabilitative training programme while the other group did not participate in any sports activities.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor activity and other fibrinolytic variables in patients with coronary artery disease.

Several fibrinolytic variables, including plasminogen activator inhibitor activity, were studied before and after exercise in 67 normolipidaemic patients with coronary artery disease and in 25 hyperlipidaemic patients with coronary artery disease. Before exercise plasminogen activator inhibitor activity was higher in the patient groups than in a group of 10 healthy volunteers. For those who were normolipidaemic plasminogen activator inhibitor activity was greater in patients with angina pectoris who had had a myocardial infarction.

Reduced fibrinolytic activity in coronary heart disease in basal conditions and after exercise.

Fibrinolysis may be impaired in coronary heart disease patients. 20 coronary heart disease patients and 10 control subjects were examined for tissue-plasminogen activator activity, tissue-plasminogen activator antigen, fast tissue-plasminogen activator inhibitor and other fibrinolytic and haemostatic parameters including antigenic and functional protein C. Both patient and control groups were similar in age and smoking habits.