ARTIFICIAL ULTRAVIOLET WHOLE-BODY RADIATION DOES NOT MODIFY SERUM-LIPOPROTEIN, PLASMA-FIBRINOGEN, PLASMINOGEN OR ANTITHROMBIN-III CONCENTRATIONS IN POSTMYOCARDIAL INFARCTION PATIENTS

The relationship of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) to seasonal and lati tude variation has prompted speculation that exposure to the ultraviol et component of solar radiation may reduce IHD risk. This hypothesis w as partially tested by exposing 14 post-myocardial infarction patients to a 6 week course of artificial whole-body ultraviolet radiation (UV R). Serum lipoprotein and plasma coagulation factor concentrations wer e measured before and after the course of UVR. Results were compared w ith similar measurements from a placebo-controlled group of 13 post-my ocardial patients. Despite a more than two-fold rise in mean serum 25- OHD, serum lipoprotein and plasma fibrinogen, antithrombin III and pla sminogen concentrations did not change significantly in the UVR group. Significant but minor change in prothrombin time and thrombin time in the placebo group appear unlikely to be of biological significance. S easonal and latitude variation in these IHD risk factors appear unrela ted to corresponding variation in solar UVR exposure.