ELEVATED PLASMA-LEVELS OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELL MARKERS IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Hypercholesterolemia is associated with an increased incidence of vasc ular complications. To assess the actual degree of activation of coagu lation systems and vascular disorders in hypercholesterolemia, plasma levels of vascular endothelial cell markers, such as thrombomodulin (T M), tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor -I (PAI-I), and von Willebrand factor, were measured in 51 patients wi th hypercholesterolemia. We also investigated the effects of Pravastat in, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, o n plasma lipid, lipoprotein a, and hemostatic markers. The mean plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), fibrinopeptide A ( FPA), TM, and PAI-I were significantly elevated in hypercholesterolemi a. Of the hemostatic markers, only TM was significantly increased in p atients with ischemic heart diseases (IHD). The mean concentration of total cholesterol and levels of TAT, FPA, PAI-I, and TM were significa ntly reduced after the Pravastatin treatment. The PIC/TAT ratio was si gnificantly increased in non-IHD patients after treatment, this was no t the case in IHD patients. These findings suggested the presence of a thrombogenic state and vascular endothelial cell disorders in hyperch olesterolemia; such a state might well be related to hypofibrinolysis. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.