Urokinase-type plasminogen activator system predicts risk of cardiovascular events in patients with angina pectoris: results of the ECAPTURE study

In most Westernized societies cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death over the age of 45 years and one-quarter of these deaths occur in men below the age of 65 years. The haemostasis system has been identified as an important system in cardiovascular disease (CVD). The European Concer ted Action on Prevention from Thrombosis by URokinase Enhancement (ECAPTURE ) has focused on the contribution of the urokinase system to CVD. In 2298 p atients with angina pectoris the relationship between plasma levels of sing le-chain urokinase (scu-PA), urokinase antigen (u-PA) and u-PA-inhibitor co mplex and the risk of cardiovascular events (n=84) during a 2 year follow-u p period was studied. Plasma levels of total u-PA and u-PA-inhibitor comple x predicted the risk of cardiovascular events, the adjusted relative risks of the highest quintile versus the lowest were 2.71 [95% confidence interva l (CI), 1.34-5.48] and 2.34 (95% CI, 1.08-5.11), respectively. These result s suggest that the urokinase system plays a role in cardiovascular disease. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.