HEMOSTATIC VARIABLES IN PACIFIC ISLANDERS APPARENTLY FREE FROM STROKEAND ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE - THE KITAVA STUDY

We cross-sectionally measured plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1 ) activity, fibrinogen, factor VII (FVII:C) and Vm (FVIII:C) coagulant activity, and von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag) in 162 tradition al horticulturalists older than 40 years from the tropical island of K itava, Papua New Guinea, where the intake of western food is negligibl e and where stroke and ischaemic heart disease appear to be absent. Id entical analyses were made in Swedish subjects of comparable ages. Kit avans had markedly lower PAI-1 activity, with 85% of males and 100% of females having PAI-1 activity less than or equal to 5 U/ml, as compar ed with 22 and 14% in Swedish males and females (p < 0.0001). Surprisi ngly, Kitavans also had higher FVII:C, FVIII:C and VWF:Ag. Fibrinogen was 10% lower in Kitavan males while 25% higher in Kitavan females. Th e very low PAI-1 activity in Kitavans may explain some of their appare nt freedom from cardiovascular disease and probably relates to their e xtreme leanness.