FAVORABLE EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM THERAPY WI TH CAPTOPRIL ON HEMOSTASIS

Thirty-nine patients (37 men, 2 women) aged 30 - 73 years with first m yocardial infarction were followed-up for 12 moths after onset of the disease. On days 2 - 3 of infarction 19 patients were randomised to th e treatment with capropril (25 - 150 mg/day). Parameters of haemostasi s and fibrinolysis were determined in samples of blood taken in 3 week s and 12 months after onset of infarction. By 12 months a significant decrease of fibrinogen level (from 3,8 to 3,0 g/l) was observed in cap topril treated patients. At this point these patients also had higher than in control group levels of plasminogen (135,6+/-13,0% and 114,5+/ -8,0%, respectively, p=0.03) and protein C (170,3+/-14,7% and 128,5+/- 9,0, respectively, p=0.001). Thus, treatment with captopril produced f avourable effect on haemostasis. This effect could be considered one o f mechanisms of myocardial infarction prevention by angiotensin conver ting enzyme inhibitors.