FEMORAL-ARTERY WALL MORPHOLOGY, HEMOSTATIC FACTORS AND INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION - ULTRASOUND STUDY IN MEN AT HIGH AND LOW-RISK FOR ATHEROSCLEROTIC DISEASE

The aim of this study was to examine whether there was a relationship between ultrasound-assessed morphology of the femoral artery wall and hemostatic factors, and whether these factors were associated with int ermittent claudication. One hundred and thirty men at high cardiovascu lar risk and 51 men at low risk were examined. The subjects (high- and low-risk) with moderate/large plaque (n = 96) had higher fibrinogen, thrombin/antithrombin complex and von Willebrand factor, compared to s ubjects with small/no plaque. The maximum intima-media thickness of th e femoral artery was significantly associated with fibrinogen. These a ssociations were independent of current smoking habits. Clinical ather osclerosis was associated with fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, thro mbin/antithrombin complex, plasminogen activator inhibitor activity, m ean and maximum intima-media thickness and plaque status of the femora l artery. In conclusion, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and thrombi n/antithrombin complex were related to plaque occurrence in the femora l artery. Clinical atherosclerosis was associated with fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, thrombin/antithrombin complex and plasminogen acti vator inhibitor activity.