Detection of a prothrombotic state after acute aerobic exercise

Angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death are associated with thrombus formation in coronary arteries. It is generally believed that these conditions benefit from long-term exercise. However, the evidence for such amelioration or prevention is inconclusive and so is the mechanism through which long-term exercise exerts its beneficial effect on various ischaemic conditions. Because of the thrombotic events, the effects of exercise on platelet reactivity, blood coagulation and fibrinolysis have been extensively studied, but the findings are not consistent (1-9). This is mainly due to methodological problems. Analysis of platelet response to a variety of agonists and the dozen of coagulation and fibrinolysis variables makes the assessment of the overall platelet function, coagulation and fibrinolysis status extremely difficult.