Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in central and peripheral obesity

ABSTRACT

In the present study, one component of fibrinolytic system [PAI-1] was examined in obese middle aged females with a high and low waist hip ratio [WHR] in comparison to lean age and sex matched group. The study comprised 15 obese female subjects with a high WHR, 15 obese female subjects with a low WHR and 10 non obese females. PAI-1 was significantly elevated in the obese women with a high WHR compared with the obese women with a low WHR or with lean women. In addition, obese women with a high WHR exhibited a greater metabolic risk profile [elevated glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels]. When all subjects were pooled for analysis, PAI-1 levels correlated positively with glucose and cholesterol levels. In conclusion, the data showed that a high WHR in obese females is associated with an impaired fibrinolytic activity due to increased plasma PAI-1 level. In addition, obese females with high WHR are liable to a high metabolic risk profiles