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Plasma tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor levels in coronary artery disease: correlation with age and serum
Insights
Elevated levels of tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) inhibitor correlate with age and triglycerides, not coronary artery disease itself. This suggests a role in thrombosis, particularly in older individuals with hypertriglyceridemia.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Endogenous inhibitors of tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) are implicated in acute myocardial ischemia.
- Understanding the role of t-PA inhibitor in coronary artery disease (CAD) is crucial for cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma t-PA inhibitor levels and coronary artery disease.
- To explore correlations between t-PA inhibitor levels and various risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Main Methods:
- Plasma samples were analyzed from patients with chest pain, documented CAD, and healthy controls.
- Levels of t-PA inhibitor were measured and correlated with age, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, and body weight.
Main Results:
- Plasma t-PA inhibitor levels were similar across patient groups irrespective of CAD presence or severity.
- Significant positive correlations were found between t-PA inhibitor levels and age (r=0.46) and serum triglyceride levels (r=0.60).
- No significant correlation was observed between t-PA inhibitor levels and other common cardiovascular risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Age-dependent decrease in fibrinolytic activity may be linked to increased t-PA inhibitor levels.
- High t-PA inhibitor levels associated with hypertriglyceridemia may contribute to coronary thrombosis, especially in the elderly.
- The study does not support a direct pathogenic role of t-PA inhibitor in the development of coronary atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
Increased levels of an endogenous inhibitor of tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) have been thought to relate to the genesis of acute myocardial ischemia. To examine the role of the rapid inhibitor of t-PA, plasma samples were analyzed from 75 patients with chest pain syndrome undergoing coronary angiography (mean age 57 years), 24 patients with clinically documented coronary artery disease (unstable angina, positive exercise stress test or previous history of myocardial infarction; mean age 58 years) and 15 young normal subjects (mean age 26 years). Plasma t-PA inhibitor levels were similar in age-matched patients regardless of the absence or presence (and degree) of coronary artery disease. Plasma t-PA inhibitor levels correlated significantly with age (r - 0.46, p less than 0.005), suggesting an age-dependent decrease in fibrinolytic activity. Plasma t-PA inhibitor levels also correlated significantly with serum triglyceride levels (r - 0.60, p less than 0.001), but not with coronary risk factors such as serum cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, serum uric acid levels or body weight. Association of high levels of inhibitor of t-PA with hypertriglyceridemia may be of importance in the development of coronary thrombosis, especially in elderly patients. Nonetheless, this study does not suggest a pathogenic role of t-PA inhibitor in coronary atherosclerosis.