Thromb Haemostasis
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The objective of this study was to elucidate the association between the polymorphism of stromelysin-1, also called matrix metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3), and smoking in the pathogenesis of young acute myocardial infarction (MI). Plaque rupture is well established as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of acute MI. MMP-3 can degrade extracellular matrix and are identified extensively in human coronary atheroslcerotic plaques, and may contribute to the weakening of the cap and subsequent rupture. ⋯ Compared to 6A/6A subjects, among patients who did not smoke, the 5A allele polymorphism was associated with a higher risk of MI at a young age (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.3 to 8.6), but smoking carriers of the 5A allele had a significantly 10-fold higher risk of MI (OR 9.98, 95% CI 2.3 to 12.5). We can conclude that there was a significant association between the 5A/6A polymorphism in the promoter region of stromelysin-1 gene and young MI in Taiwan. A synergistic effect between smoking and this polymorphism for the premature onset of MI had been shown in this study.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Direct thrombin inhibitor melagatran followed by oral ximelagatran in comparison with enoxaparin for prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip or knee replacement.
We evaluated whether a postoperative regimen with melagatran followed by oral ximelagatran, two new direct thrombin inhibitors, was an optimal regimen for thromboprophylaxis in major orthopaedic surgery. In a double-blind study, 2788 patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement were randomly assigned to receive for 8 to 11 days either 3 mg of subcutaneous melagatran started 4-12 h postoperatively, followed by 24 mg of oral ximelagatran twice-daily or 40 mg of subcutaneous enoxaparin once-daily, started 12 h preoperatively. Ximelagatran was to be initiated within the first two postoperative days. ⋯ The main safety endpoint was bleeding. Venous thromboembolism occurred in 355/1146 (31.0%) and 306/1122 (27.3%) patients in the ximelagatran and enoxaparin group, respectively, a difference in risk of 3.7% in favour of enoxaparin (p = 0.053). Bleeding was comparable between the two groups.
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Review
Predisposing factors for enlargement of intracerebral hemorrhage in patients treated with warfarin.
To elucidate predisposing factors for enlargement of intracerebral hematoma (ICH) during warfarin therapy, we reviewed 47 patients on warfarin who developed acute ICH and determined relationships among ICH enlargement, INR reversal and clinical data. Among 36 patients treated to counteract the effects of warfarin within 24 h of onset, ICH increased in 10 patients (enlarged group), but remained unchanged in the remaining 26 (unchanged group), while ICH remained unchanged in another 11 patients in whom the effect of warfarin was reversed after 24 h. ⋯ Multivariate analysis with a logistic regression model showed an INR value <2.0 at admission or for 24 h after immediate INR correction with PCC prevented ICH enlargement (OR 0.069, 95%CI 0.006-0.789, p = 0.031). An INR value of >2.0 within 24 h of ICH seems an important predisposing factor for ICH enlargement.
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The aim of the present study is to verify the relationship between peripheral artery disease (PAD) and some coagulation/fibrinolysis parameters in type 2 diabetic patients. Sixty-three type 2 diabetic patients, without PAD, were studied at baseline and after 4 years. Assessments included tissue-Plasminogen Activator (t-PA), Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-1 Ag), Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 activity (PAI-1 Act), Plasminogen (Pl), Fibrin peptide A (FPA), Fibrinogen (Fr), and the ankle/brachial pressure index (ABI). ⋯ After 4 years 13 diabetic patients became vasculopathic and, at baseline, had significantly lower tPA (8.9 +/- 4.8 vs. 12.5 +/- 5.3; p <0.011), and higher PAI-1 Ag (50.8 +/- 22.2 vs. 32 +/- 22.2; p <0.006), and PAI-1 Act values (24.1 +/- 9.5 vs. 16.1 +/- 8.4; p <0.014), compared with 50 diabetic patients who did not develop PAD after 4 years. These data show that the physiological equilibrium which exists between t-PA and PAI-1 moves towards higher levels in our diabetic patients compared with controls, at baseline, whereas diabetic patients who developed PAD showed a shift towards an antifibrinolytic pathway with diminished t-PA, increased PAI-1 Ag and PAI-1 Act and consequently procoagulant activity. Our study suggests that hypofibrinolysis may be involved in the future onset of PAD in type 2 diabetic patients.
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We tested the hypothesis that activated neutrophil-endothelial cell interaction in DIC can cause endothelial injury contributing to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and a poor outcome after trauma. Fifty-eight severe trauma patients, 29 with DIC and 29 without DIC were studied. Serial levels of soluble L-, P-, and E-selectins, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, thrombomodulin, and neutrophil elastase were measured on days 0-4 after trauma. ⋯ Maximum DIC scores in the DIC group showed good correlations with peak levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, neutrophil elastase, sThrombomodulin, and the number of dysfunctioning organs. Highly activated and sustained inflammation caused by neutrophil-endothelium interaction in DIC gives rise to MODS and poor outcome in patients with severe trauma. These results suggest a close relationship between inflammation and thrombosis in posttrauma DIC.