P. Bartsch et al., BALANCED ACTIVATION OF COAGULATION AND FIBRINOLYSIS AFTER A 2-H TRIATHLON, Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 27(11), 1995, pp. 1465-1470
To examine whether exercise-induced thrombin formation is accompanied
by increased in vivo plasmin formation, we measured molecular markers
and neoantigens of the hemostatic system in 10 male subjects (mean 29
yr, range 19-38) before, immediately after, and 2, 8, and 21 h after a
triathlon lasting 128-163 min. Thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes,
fibrinopeptide A (FPA), and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antig
en were maximally increased immediately after exercise and decreased t
hereafter rapidly. Prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (PTF1 + 2), fibrin degra
dation products (FbDP) and plasmin-antiplasmin (PAP) complexes rose to
a similar extent 0 and 2 h after exercise and decreased thereafter. T
he maximal levels of PTF1 + 2, TAT, FPA, and FbDP were 1.5-, 2.1-, 1.8
-, and 1.9-fold above baseline values, respectively, while t-PA antige
n and PAP rose 9.9- and 10.6-fold above baseline, respectively. This i
nvestigation shows that strenuous prolonged exercise leads to a modera
te activation of blood coagulation resulting in thrombin and fibrin fo
rmation which is accompanied by a greatly enhanced plasmin generation.
It is concluded that the hemostatic system of healthy individuals is
well kept in balance when stimulated by prolonged strenuous exercise.