Fibrinolytic parameters in young adults: the Floren-teen (Florence Teenager) Study

Objective: Determination of fibrinolytic parameters in young adults. Design: Students from a high school of Florence were involved in a longitud inal 5-year study of Preventive Medicine and Education Program. Setting. Istituto Clinica Medica Generale e Cardiologia, University of Flor ence, and Nuovo Ospedale San Giovanni di Die, Florence, Italy. Subjects. 144 healthy students (59 males and 85 females) aged 17-19 years. Interventions: Venous blood withdrawal on fasting subjects, after 30 min of resting. Main outcome measures: Euglobulin lysis time (ELT) was measured o n acidified plasma. PAI activity (PAI ag) was measured by chromogenic metho d. PAI-1 antigen (PAI-1 ag) and t-PA (1/2 I-1 PA ag) antigen were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Lipid analysis was performed by enzymatic assays. Results: We observed sex-related differences for ELT, which was shorter in males, and PAI-1 ag and t-PA ag levels which were significantly higher in m ales. No differences in the various parameters were observed according to s moking habits, alcohol consumption or practice of leisure physical activity . A correlation was found between ELT and lipid parameters. PAI-1 ag was co rrelated to weight, BMI, arterial blood pressure, and lipid parameters. PAI ac was directly related to blood pressure only in females. t-PA ag was cor related to arterial blood pressure and lipid parameters. Direct correlation s were observed among ELT, PAI ac, PAI-1 ag, and t-PA ag. Conclusion: The influence of classical risk factors on fibrinolysis-related risk factors takes place early in life. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.