FIBRINOLYSIS AND LIPID-TRANSPORT SYSTEM I N PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT EXTENT OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Fibrinogen, d-dimer, activity of tissue type plasminogen activator inh ibitor, alpha(2)-antiplasmin, high and low density lipoprotein cholest erol, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), activity of tissue type plasminog en activator at rest and after physical exercise were measured in 88 p atients with different extent of atherosclerosis as assessed by angiog raphy and ultrasound methods. In patients with multifocal atherosclero tic lesions increases in contents of fibrinogen, d-dimer, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apoprotein B and decreased level of apoprotei n A-1 were found. Patients with isolated atherosclerosis in vessels of lower extremities had some special characteristics such as increased triglycerides and lipoprotein (a). Positive correlations were found be tween fibrinogen level and triglycerides and apoprotein B. In a subgro up of 27 patients with lipoprotein (a) level above 30 mg/dl there was a negative correlation between lipoprotein (a) and plasminogen activat or inhibitor. It was suggested that lowering of plasminogen activator inhibitor activity in patients with elevated lipoprotein (a) was cause d by increased consumption of the former for formation of plaminogen a ctivator - plasminogen activator inhibitor complex. This increased con sumption of plasminogen activator inhibitor could probably be due to r ise in content of free plasminogen activator because of its replacemen t from plasminogen binding cites by competing lipoprotein (a).