D-dimer and fibrinolysis in patients with various degrees of atherosclerosis

D-dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) activity at rest and after exercise, and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity after exercise were measured in venous blood in 88 patients with atherosclerotic lesions of various degrees. According to clinical symptoms, coronary angiography (CAG), ultrasound Doppler signal and duplex and colour Doppler scanning of carotid arteries and their branches, subclavian, vertebral and peripheral arteries of the lower limbs, patients were divided into four groups. Group 1, 16 men without CAG and ultrasound signs of atherosclerotic lesions; group 2, 27 patients with CAG-confirmed coronary artery disease; group 3, 18 patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease; group 4, 27 patients with coexistence of two or more regions of atherosclerotic lesions. D-dimer was the highest in patients with the most extensive atherosclerosis: 432 +/- 164 ng.ml-1 in group 3, 429 +/- 98 ng.ml-1 in group 4 vs 163 +/- 25 ng.ml-1 in group 1, P < 0.05. There were correlations (P < 0.05) between: age and D-dimer (r = 0.29); D-dimer and t-PA (r = 0.34); D-dimer and PAI-1, r = -0.29. Patients were also analysed according to D-dimer level. In patients with the highest level of D-dimer, the lowest level of PAI-1 activity and the highest level of t-PA activity after exercise were observed. The low PAI-1 activity is probably the result of an increased release of t-PA in these patients.