Factor VII activity state in coronary artery disease

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Cardiovascular Disease Research

Background:

• Previous studies suggest a link between high cardiovascular disease risk and increased factor VII procoagulant activity.
• This activity may be due to a specific phospholipase C-sensitive form of factor VII.

Purpose of the Study:

• To further investigate factor VII levels and activity states in patients at high risk for coronary artery disease.
• To determine if increased factor VII activity is due to the zymogen or activated form.

Main Methods:

• Measured factor VII levels using amidolytic (FVIIam) and standard clotting (FVIIc-A) assays, which reflect total factor VII.
• Utilized a specific clotting assay (FVIIc-B) sensitive to activated factor VII.
• Compared factor VII levels and activity ratios between high-risk patients and normal subjects.

Main Results:

• High-risk patients showed significantly higher mean values in FVIIc-A and FVIIam assays compared to normal subjects.
• Conversely, high-risk patients had significantly lower mean values in the FVIIc-B assay.
• The ratio of FVIIc-B to FVIIam was substantially lower in patients (0.70) than in normal subjects (0.99), indicating reduced activation.

Conclusions:

• Patients at high risk for coronary artery disease exhibit elevated total factor VII levels.
• This increase is not accompanied by a rise in activated factor VII.
• The findings suggest an increased level of zymogen factor VII in individuals with high cardiovascular disease risk.