Plasma markers of hypercoagulability in patients with serious infections and risk of septic shock.

Hyperthrombinogenesis due to bacterial septicemia may aggravate the risk of irreversible septic shock. In 22 patients with septicemia complicating urinary or alimentary infections, daily assessment of hemostasis was performed throughout 1 week. Standard screening of hemostasis revealed significantly increased mean values of prothrombin time, fibrinogen, and fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) concentration.

Elevation of plasma fibrinogen in silent myocardial ischaemia.

High plasma levels of fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) are reported to be correlated with coronary heart disease. Therefore the level of fibrinogen concentration in plasma was examined and verified for the possible correlation with the previously explored PAI-1 antigen and PAI-1 activity in the pathogenesis of premature atherosclerosis (Grzywacz et al., 1998, Blood Coagul Fibrinol.

Impairment of plasma fibrinolysis in young survivors of myocardial infarction with silent ischaemia.

The aim of this study was to compare fibrinolytic parameters in two subgroups of young survivors of myocardial infarction: group A (n = 14) with silent myocardial ischaemia and group B (n = 15) without silent myocardial ischaemia, as assessed by 24 h Holter electrocardiogram monitoring. Only men aged 33-46 years who were in a stable condition at least 6 months after the acute event were included in the survey. All patients were normolipaemic or had only mild hyperlipidaemia, non-diabetic, normotensive, non-current smokers and with a normal body mass index.

[Changes in tissue plasminogen activator in experimental peritonitis caused by pathogenic factors].

Significantly higher tissue plasminogen activator activities were found in the abdominal exudate of rats with peritonitis caused by Escherichia coli than in rats with peritonitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The changes of intraabdominal fibrinolysis may be depended on the type of microorganism.

Low molecular weight heparin and the heparin mobilisable pool of platelet factor 4 are reduced in young survivors of myocardial infarction.

The platelet factor 4 (PF4) mobilisation properties of low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine, Sanofi Winthrop, France) in young survivors of myocardial infarction (YSMI) and healthy volunteers have been investigated. The study group consisted of 42 YSMI less than 44 years old, all of them with angiographically proven occlusive coronary artery disease, studied 6 to 24 months after the acute event. The control group was composed of 30 healthy men of similar age.