High-intensity interval training recuperates capacity of endogenous thrombin generation in heart failure patients...

Consumptive coagulopathy is associated with increased mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Physical activity influences the risk of major vascular thrombotic events. This study investigates how high-intensity interval training (HIIT) affects the capacity of endogenous thrombin generation (TG) by modulating circulatory procoagulant microparticles (MPs) in HF patients.

Thirty-eight HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and 38 age- and gender-matched normal counterparts (NC) were recruited into this study. The HFrEF group performed HIIT (3-min intervals at 40% and 80%VO_2peak) on a bicycle ergometer for 30 min/day, 3 days/week for 12 weeks, whereas the NC group did not receive any form of intervention. Plasma TG kinetics, procoagulant MPs, coagulation-related factors, and oxidative stress/proinflammatory status were analyzed.

The HFrEF group exhibited (i) less endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) and TG rate, (ii) lower concentration/activity of tissue factor (TF) and counts of TF-rich MPs derived from blood cells, and (iii) higher vascular endothelial shedding and plasma myeloperoxidase and interleukin-6 concentrations, compared to the NC group did. However, HIIT elevated TG rate and TF concentration/activity in plasma, as well as, TF-rich MP counts derived from blood cells in patients with HFrEF. Moreover, the exercise regimen also decreased vascular endothelial shedding and plasma myeloperoxidase and interleukin-6 concentrations in HFrEF patients.

HFrEF reduces the capacity of endogenous TG in plasma, which is associated with decreased (or consumed) circulatory procoagulant MP levels. However, HIIT alleviates HFrEF-declined endogenous TG capacity and vascular endothelial damage through recuperating TF-related coagulation activity and suppressing oxidative stress/proinflammatory status.