RELATION OF VON-WILLEBRAND-FACTOR TO OCCURRENCE OF Q-WAVES AND THROMBOLYTIC TREATMENT IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

We measured the changes of plasma von Willebrand factor antigen and fi brinogen levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated w ith recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and patients not given fi brinolytic drugs. The von Willebrand factor levels are greater in pati ents with Q-wave than in patients with non-Q-wave myocardial infarctio n and are independent of thrombolytic treatment. Fibrinogen levels are depressed by thrombolytic treatment but are unrelated to the presence or absence of Q waves.