FIBRINOLYTIC-ACTIVITY IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON EXERCISE MODE IN POSTMYOCARDIAL INFARCTION PATIENTS

In this study we investigated possible differences in fibrinolytic act ivity in cardiac patients while they performed treadmill and cycle erg ometry. Thirteen post-myocardial infarction patients completed two max imal exercise tests on treadmill and cycle ergometers. Blood was colle cted before and after each exercise test and was analyzed for the fibr inolytic variables, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminoge n activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-I) activity, and lactate. Maximal oxygen uptake, heart rate, and ventilation were greater (P < 0.05) on the tre admill than during cycle ergometry, however, blood lactate was similar between modes. t-PA activity significantly increased with exercise (P < 0.05) and there was a trend toward a reduction in PAI-I activity wi th exercise, but this did not reach statistical significance. The fibr inolytic responses to maximal exercise did not differ between the two modes of exercise studied. Therefore, exercise intensity, but not the mode of exercise, appeared to be the primary determinant of the fibrin olytic response to acute exercise in these patients.