HEMOSTATIC ACTIVATION AND CARDIAC EVENTS AFTER THE 1995 HANSHIN-AWAJIEARTHQUAKE

Earthquake-induced stress seems to induce rheological deterioration as sociated with high blood pressure, an increase of blood viscosity due to hemoconcentration and an increase of the fibrinogen level. These ch anges lead to prolonged endothelial cell injury and accelerate fibrin turnover as the result of a high D-dimer level. An increase of these a cute changes caused by mental and physical stress after an earthquake might trigger obstructive thrombus in coronary arteries in the elderly . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. AU rights reserved.