Factors involved in sudden coagulation observed in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Coronary artery diseases (CAD) evolving into acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with coagulation and thrombotic occlusion of coronary vessels in the presence of unstable atheroma. The atheromatous plaque becomes unstable when it is infiltrated by monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils capable of secreting proteases that induce plaque erosion, rupture and initialize the coagulation process. The aim of this study was (a) to analyse the plasma of patients with AMI for the presence of proteases that may activate rapid coagulation, (b) to evaluate coagulation markers as prothrombin fragment (F1+2) and antithrombin III and (c) to find an interrelation between proteases and coagulation markers.