HEMOSTATIC ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH A TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK OR MINOR ISCHEMIC STROKE WITH OR WITHOUT CHRONIC NONVALVULAR ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION

In this study we determined the prevalence of hemostatic hyperactivity in patients with recent cerebral ischemia and its relation to the pre sence of chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Plasma levels of thr ombin-antithrombin III complexes (TAT) and prothrombin fragments 1+2 ( F1+2) were used as hemostatic parameters and were studied in four grou ps of 14 patients each: patients with or without recent cerebral ische mia, and with or without chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Irre spective of their cardiac rhythm, patients with recent cerebral ischem ia showed significantly higher F1+2 levels than patients without signs of previous cerebral ischemic events (median 1.16 vs. 0.96 nmol/l; p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the TAT levels in the different groups. A higher level of hemostatic activity was fo und in the patients over 70 years of age compared to those younger tha n 70 years.