[Difficulties in the diagnosis of stroke in pregnant women]. / Slozhnosti diagnostiki mozgovogo insul'ta u beremennykh.

AIM: To study the features of the clinical picture of stroke and results of laboratory/instrumental study in pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study included 44 women at different periods of gestation (mean age 33.4±9.7 years) with clinical symptoms of stroke hospitalized within 4-11h after stroke. Neuroimaging, clinical/instrumental and laboratory examinations were carried out in the first 40 min after admission. RESULTS: A routine screening examination during the management of pregnancy in women's consultation clinics does not always reduce the risk of life threatening events. The operative delivery can decrease the severity of the focal neurological deficit. Intensive treatment and dynamic management of patients with intracranial pathology in intensive care stroke unit improves outcome of stroke. CONCLUSION: A timely differential diagnosis of pathological conditions with different symptoms of stroke at the different stages of medical care of pregnant women helps to choose an optimal treatment plan and improve the outcome.

[Randomized Comparison of Two Approaches to Initial Warfarin Dosing: Time in Therapeutic Range of International Normalized Ratio During Hospitalization].

AIM: To perform a randomized, open-label comparison of average time in therapeutic range (TTR) of international normalized ratio (INR) using two approaches to initial warfarin dosing during hospitalization: the standard method and the one using individual patient characteristics (clinical algorithm - the studied approach). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We randomly assigned 60 patients with different indications for vitamin K antagonist therapy to the studied approach (n=31, intervention group) or to the standard method (n=29, control group). А target INR range for all patients was 2.0 to 3.0. RESULTS: The average TTR and portions of INR values within target range during the whole time of drug dosing turned out to be small. TTR was 22.4% with standard method and 21.4% with clinical algorithm, which was well below desired 60%. CONCLUSION: The opportunities for achieving target INR in inpatient settings, regardless of warfarin dosing regimen, are limited.

[Indirect comparison of changes of parameters of hemostasis during short-term use of ticlopidine and clopidogrel in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome].

UNLABELLED: Effects of thienopyridines ticlopidine (TIC) and clopidogrel (CL) on hemostasis in patients (pts) with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) have not been compared. AIM: To compare changes of some markers of coagulation and platelet activation during short term use of TIC and CL in pts with NSTEACS. METHODS: Aspirin treated pts with NSTEACS (<48 hours from pain onset, Braunwald class IIIb) were included into 2 consecutive studies: 37 pts receiving unfractionated heparin (UFH) were randomized to open TIC (n=19, 500 mg BID for 2 days and 250 mg BID for subsequent 5 days) or no TIC (n=18); 19 pts receiving enoxaparin were randomized to CL (n=10, 300 mg on day 1 and 75 mg/day for subsequent 6 days) or no CL (n=9). At baseline, on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 (7 days after thienopyridines discontinuation) we measured ADP-induced and spontaneous platelet aggregation (PA), levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibrinogen, tissue type plasminogen activator antigen (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (PAI) and D-dimer (Dd), and counted platelet number. RESULTS: Maximal suppression of PA was obtained on 7-th and 3-rd days in TIC and CL groups, respectively. Compared with their controls TIC treated pts in 7 days after TIC discontinuation had lower levels of TAT (3.61 and 2.77 ng/ml, respectively, r<0.05) and fibrinogen (3.84 and 3.16 g/l, respectively, r<0.05). There were no significant differences between intervention and control groups in these parameters in study with CL. Level of vWF in TIC treated pts was lower than in controls on days 3 (163 and 186%, respectively, r<0.05) and 14 (144 and 173%, respectively, p<0.01). In CL treated pts vWF level was lower relative to controls on days 3 and 7 (152 and 185%, r<0.05, 141 and 166%, r<0.05, respectively). tPA levels in study with TIC did not differ between intervention and control groups. tPA in CL treated pts exceeded its level in controls on days 3, 7, and 14 (25.7 and 20.2 ng/ml, 26.5 and 12.9 ng/ml, 24.6 and 15.7 ng/ml, respectively). On the same days level of Dd in pts receiving CL was significantly higher than in control group (969 and 702 ng/ml, 970 and 575 ng/ml, 806 and 484 ng/ml on days 3, 7 and 14, respectively). Activity of PAI in TIC group was higher than in controls on day 7 (13.6 and 8.2 U/l, r<0.05), and at this moment level of Dd was lower in TIC treated patient (770 and 515 ng/ml in control and TIC groups, respectively, r<0.05). CL and control groups had similar PAI activity. Mean platelet volume rose relative to initial level and to control group only in CL treated patients (9.0 and 8.4 fl, 9.6 and 8.4 fl, 9.4 and 8.5 fl in CL and control groups on days 0, 7 and 14, respectively; r<0.05 for comparison between groups on days 7 and 14). CONCLUSION: In pts with NSTEACS both thienopyridines attenuated acute phase elevation of vWF. The use of TIC in UFH treated pts was associated with indirect signs of decreased thrombin activity and some inhibition of fibrinolysis while the use of CL in enoxaparin treated pts was associated with signs of activation of fibrinolysis.

[Prevention and treatment of venous thromboses and thromboembolism: pentasaccharides as novel anticoagulants selectively blocking Xe factor, their position and potential (data of the XIX International Congress on Thromboses and Hemostasis)]. / Profilaktika i lechenie venoznykh trombozov i tromboémbolii: pentasakharidy -- novye antikoatugianty, izbiratel'no blokiruiushchie faktor Kha, ikh mesto i potentsial'nye vozmozhnosti.

Drug prevention and treatment of venous thromboses and thromboembolism remain a serious problem in the management of surgical and therapeutic patients. Pentasaccharides, novel anticoagulants selectively blocking Xe factor have a great potential for their use in the given area. It has been demonstrated at the preliminary stages of the study of these antithrombotic agents that their pharmacokinetics permits subcutaneous drug injection once a day (for fondaparinux) and once for 7 days (for indraparinux) without the necessity of making routine coagulologic control. The drugs are marked by bioavailability approximating 100%, linear dose-dependent pharmacokinetic profile at subcutaneous injection; they do not undergo metabolism and are excreted largely with urine. Fondaparinux, the first representative of this class anticoagulants, has evidence for the effectiveness and safety, obtained in large randomized studies carried out in orthopedic and traumatologic patients. The given paper reports the new positive data on evaluation of the preventive action of fondaparinux in therapeutic subjects end patients who had undergone abdominal surgical interventions. Moreover, in large comparative studies , this anticoagulant did yield to the standard agents applied to the treatment of thrombosis of the deep veins and thromboembolism of pulmonary artery branches. Being more handy in use fondaparinux is capable of replacing antithrombotic agents (without efficacy and safety loss) used nowadays for preventive and therapeutic purposes. In the event of successful completion of the evaluation of idraparinux, another pentasaccharide intended for many months of anticoagulant treatment, the goal-oriented use of pentasaccharides is potentially capable of supplanting all the "old" antithrombotic agents from the schedule of the short-term and prolonged prevention and treatment of venous thromboses and thromboembolism.

[Non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome. Some characteristics of coagulation and von Willebrand factor during short term use of ticlopidine or clopidogrel]. / Ostryi koronarnyi sindrom bez stoikikh pod"emov segmenta ST: izmeneniia nekotorykh pokazatelei sistemy svertyvaniia krovi i faktora Villebranda pri kratkosrochnom primenenii tiklopidina ili klopidogrelia.

UNLABELLED: Levels of some markers of coagulation and platelet activation such as prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) and von Willebrand factor (vWF), are related to outcome in non ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). Effects of thienopyridines ticlopidine and clopidogrel on acute changes of these parameters in patients with NSTEACS are not well investigated. AIM: To study changes of markers of coagulation and platelet activation during short term use of ticlopidine and clopidogrel in NSTEACS patients treated with aspirin and antithrombin. METHODS: Patients with NSTEACS, treated with aspirin and unfractionated heparin (n=37, <48 hours from pain onset, Braunwald class IIIb) were randomized to open ticlopidine (n=19, 500 mg BID loading dose for 2 days and 250 mg BID for subsequent 5 days) or no ticlopidine (n=18). In another substudy with the same design 19 aspirin and enoxaparin treated patients were randomized to clopidogrel (n=10, 300 mg loading dose and 75 mg/day for subsequent 6 days) or no clopidogrel (n=9). Levels of F1+2, TAT and vWF were measured at baseline, on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 (7 days after discontinuation of thienopyridines). RESULTS: At baseline values of parameters studied were similar in each pair (thienopyridine - control) of patient groups. Compared with their controls ticlopidine treated patients in 7 days after ticlopidine discontinuation had lower levels of TAT (2.77 and 3.61 ng/ml, r<0.05) and fibrinogen (3.16 and 3.84 g/l, r<0.05). The level of vWF in ticlopidine treated patients was lower relative to control group on days 3 (163 and 186%, r<0.05) and 14 (144 and 173%, p<0.01). In substudy with clopidogrel differences between groups existed only in vWF levels. In clopidogrel treated patients the level vWF was lower relative to controls on days 3 (152 and 185%, r<0.05) and 7 (141 and 166%, r<0.05). CONCLUSION: Short term use of ticlopidine in patients with NSTEACS treated with aspirin and unfractionated heparin was associated with lower levels of TAT and fibrinogen (relative to control group) on day 14. This could be interpreted as delayed effect of ticlopidine on thrombin activity. Both ticlopidine and clopidogrel used in regimes with loading doses in NSTEACS patients treated with aspirin and antithrombin prevented acute phase elevation of vWF.

[Non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome: changes of parameters of hemostasis during and after treatment with unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin]. / Ostryi koronarnyi sindrom bez stoikikh pod"emov segmenta ST: izmeneniia pokazatelei sistemy gemostaza vo vremia i posle lecheniia nefraktsionirovannym geparinom i énoksaparinom.

AIM: To compare changes of parameters of hemostasis in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) during and after treatment with unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) enoxaparin. MATERIAL: Control groups of 2 randomized studies of effects of thienopyridines in NSTEACS with similar inclusion criteria. METHODS: In patients (n=18) of study one UFH was infused intravenously for 54.2+/-22.3 h, in patients of study two subcutaneous enoxaparin 1 mg/kg b.i.d. was used for 76.2+/-28.3 h. Levels of D-dimer (DD), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibrinogen, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) and activity of its inhibitor (PAI), soon after start of treatment with heparins and in 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Short term lowering of DD and TAT levels occurred during UFH infusion apparently reflecting primary antithrombin action of UFH. During LMWH use DD level remained unchanged however its lowering was observed after cessation of LMWH (on days 7 and 14). The use of LMWH was not associated with increases of thrombinemia (TAT), thrombin generation (F1+2), and fibrinogen which were registered after end of UFH infusion (days 3, 7 and 14). Neither UFH nor LMWH prevented acute phase vWF elevation. The use of both heparins was associated with changes that could be interpreted as profibrinolytic. In LMWH treated patients these changes (elevations of TPA level) became manifested early (on day 3) and were short lived while in UFH treated patients they appeared later (on day 7) and were prolonged (as lowered PAI activity on day 14).

[Diagnostic value of heart fatty-acid binding protein in early hospitalized patients with non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome]. / Ostryi koronarnyi sindrom bez pod"emov segmenta ST na EKG: diagnosticheskoe znachenie serdechnogo belka, sviazyvaiushchego zhirnye kisloty.

BACKGROUND: Heart fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP) is supposed to be the most sensitive biomarker of myocardial necrosis in patients with Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI) and non-diagnostic ECG during first hours after onset of symptoms. However, diagnostic value of FABP in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) is not well established. AIM: To elucidate diagnostic value of FABP in patients with NSTEACS hospitalized within time interval considered to be too early for a majority of biochemical tests. MATERIAL AND METHODS: FABP levels were measured by immunofluorometry (HyTest, Finland) in 44 patients (26 men, mean age 69+/-8.9 years) at admission within 6 hours (median - 2 h) from onset of index attack of angina and in 6, 12, 24 hours after onset of pain. Cut off FABP level was 12 ng/ml. Serum cardiac troponin I was measured for diagnosis of MI on admission and twice during first 24 hours of hospital stay. Cut off TnI level was 0.4 ng/ml. RESULTS: Acute MI was diagnosed by TnI above cut off in 31 patients (70.5%). There were no new-Q-wave MIs. Average ratio of observed serum FABP level to diagnostic cut off value on admission and in 6, 12, 24 hours after onset of pain was higher in patients with MI than in patients with unstable angina (1.01, 1.53, 0.81, 0.66 and 0.78, 0.51, 0.65, 0.56, respectively). The difference was maximally significant in 6 hours after onset of pain (p=0.018). Among patients with MI admission FABP compared with admission TnI more frequently exceeded diagnostic level (in 18 vs 9 patients, respectively, p=0.009). Sensitivity and specificity of admission levels of FABP and TnI for diagnosis of MI were 58 and 85%, 29% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with NSTEACS during first 6 hours after pain onset FABP compared with TnI has greater sensitivity for detection of MI and sufficient specificity. FABP can be used as additional diagnostic tool for MI detection in early admitted patients with NSTEACS.

[Markers of inflammation and platelet aggregation in patients with non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome treated with atorvastatin or pravastatin]. / Ostryi koronarnyi sindrom bez pod"emov segmenta ST na EKG: agregatsiia trombotsitov i markery vospaleniia pri rannem primenenii atorvastatina i pravastatina.

AIM: To find out whether early use of atorvastatin and pravastatin in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome is associated with rapid changes of platelet aggregation and plasma levels of markers of inflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety patients (<24h from pain onset, age 64+/-10 years) treated with aspirin and heparin were randomized to open atorvastatin 10 mg/day (n=30), atorvastatin 40 mg/day (n=29) or pravastatin 40 mg/day (n=31). Spontaneous and ADP induced platelet aggregation (light transmission), plasma levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (immunoassay) were assessed at baseline, on days 7 and 14. RESULTS: Baseline clinical characteristics, platelet aggregation parameters, CRP and IL-6 levels were similar in all groups. In all groups levels of total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (CH) were lowered by days 7 (p<0.01) and 14 (p<0.01 vs. baseline and for both atorvastatin groups vs. day 7). Spontaneous platelet aggregation decreased by 15% from baseline, p<0.01, on day 14 in patients receiving atorvastatin 40 and was unchanged in other groups. Changes of ADP induced platelet aggregation, IL-6 and CRP levels were not significant in all groups. However combination of 2 atorvastatin groups (n=59) revealed decrease of CRP by 18% from baseline on day 14 (from 6.94+/-0.97 to 4.76+/-0.76 mg/l, p=0.028). No correlations were found between changes of LDL CH and those of other parameters. CONCLUSION: In otherwise conventionally treated patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome early use of atorvastatin was associated with rapid (in 14 days) decrease of CRP level. Higher dose of atorvastatin (40 mg/day) induced favorable changes of spontaneous platelet aggregation. There were no significant changes of parameters studied in pravastatin treated patients.

[Non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome. Parameters of fibrinolysis during short term use of ticlopidine or clopidogrel]. / Ostryi koronarnyi sindrom bez stoikikh pod"emov segmenta ST: izmeneniia pokazatelei sistemy fibrinoliza pri kratkosrochnom primenenii v dopolnenie k standartnomu lecheniiu tiklopidina ili klopidogrelia.

UNLABELLED: Whether thienopyridines (ticlopidine or clopidogrel) produce similar effects on fibrinolysis in patients with non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) was not well elucidated. AIM: To study changes of parameters of fibrinolysis during short term use of ticlopidine and clopidogrel in NSTEACS patients treated with aspirin and antithrombin. MATERIAL: Patients with NSTEACS treated with aspirin and unfractionated heparin (UFH, n=37) or enoxaparin (n=19). METHODS: The UFH treated patients were randomized to ticlopidine (1000 mg/day for 2 and then 500 mg/day for 5 days, n=19) or no ticlopidine (n=18). Enoxaparin treated patients were randomized to either clopidogrel (300 mg/day for 1 and then 75 mg/day for 6 days, n=10) or no clopidogrel (n=9). Levels of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) antigen, D-dimer, and activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) were measured before and in 24 hours, 3, 7, 14 days after randomization. RESULTS: At baseline values of parameters studied were similar in each pair (thienopiridine - control) of patients groups. Compared with their controls ticlopidine treated patients on day 7 had less pronounced lowering of PAI activity (13.6 and 8.2 U/l, p<0.05) and lower D-dimer concentration (515 and 770 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.05). Clopidogrel treated patients on days 3, 7 and 14 had higher levels of TPA both compared with controls (25.7 and 20.2, p<0.05; 26.5 and 12.9, p<0.01; 24.6 and 15.7 ng/ml, p<0.01; respectively) and baseline. D-dimer levels in these patients on same time points were also higher than in controls (969 and 702, p<0.05, 970 and 575, p<0.01, 806 and 484 ng/ml, p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Compared with controls the use of ticlopidine in patients with NSTEACS treated with aspirin and UFH was associated with less pronounced lowering of PAI activity and lower level of D-dimer. This could be interpreted as consequence of inhibition of fibrinolysis. The use of clopidogrel in similar patients treated with aspirin and enoxaparin was associated with elevated levels of TPA and D-dimer what presumably reflected augmentation of fibrinolytic activity.

[Non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome: early use of pravastatin or atorvastatin is associated with divergent changes of parameters of hemostasis]. / Ostryi koronarnyi sindrom bez pod"emov segmenta ST na EKG: raznonapravlennye izmeneniia pokazatelei gemostaza pri rannem primenenii atorvastatina i pravastatina.

PURPOSE: To find out whether pravastatin and atorvastatin rapidly (in 1-2 weeks) and similarly affect hemostasis in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). METHODS: Ninety aspirin and heparin treated patients with NSTEACS were randomized <24 hours from pain onset to open pravastatin 40 mg/day (n=31), atorvastatin 10 mg/day (n=30) or atorvastatin 40 mg/day (n=29). At baseline, on days 7, 14 plasma thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), prothrombin fragments 1+2 (F1+2), D-dimer, von Willebrand factor (vWF) were measured by ELISA. Results were compared with data from controls (n=18) of another randomized study on similarly treated patients. RESULTS: In all treatment groups levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLCH) were lowered by days 7 (p<0,01) and 14 (p<0,01 vs. baseline and for both atorvastatin groups vs. day 7). In pravastatin group levels of TAT and F1+2 decreased, while vWF level increased. In atorvastatin groups levels of TAT and F 1+2 increased while level of vWF decreased. Contrary to pravastatin group changes in atorvastatin treated patients more resembled those in controls not receiving lipid lowering drugs. Changes of both LDLCH and TCH directly correlated only with changes of vWF (r=0.23, p=0.03 and r=0.25, p=0.02, respectively). No consistent changes of D-dimer occurred. CONCLUSION: Early use of atorvastatin and pravastatin in patients with NSTEACS was associated with rapid divergent changes of some hemostatic parameters. Except lowering of von Willebrand factor changes in atorvastatin treated patients more resembled those in controls not receiving lipid lowering drugs. Von Willebrand factor was the only parameter which changes weakly but significantly correlated with changes of CH and LDL CH levels.

[Heart fatty acid binding protein in patients with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome hospitalized within 6 hours after onset of pain]. / Serdechnyi belok, sviazyvaiushchii zhirnye kisloty, u bol'nykh ostrym koronarnym sindromom s pod"emami segmenta ST, gospitalizirovannykh v pervye 6 ch zabolevaniia.

AIM: To compare diagnostic value of a novel marker of myocardial necrosis heart fatty acid binding protein (FABP) with that of troponin I (TnI) and total creatine kinase (CK) in patients admitted early after onset of ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. MATERIAL: Fifty seven patients with ST-segment elevations justifying thrombolytic therapy admitted within 6 hours (29/57 within 3 and 12/57 - 2 hours) after onset of chest pain. In all patients myocardial infarction (MI) was eventually confirmed by development of Q waves and/or diagnostic increase of CK. METHODS: Samples of blood were taken at admission to coronary care unit. Cut-off values for an elevated level of FABP was 12 ng/ml, TnI - 1.2 and 0.4 ng/ml, CK - 400 IU/l. RESULTS: Overall FABP was elevated in 47 (83%), TnI - in 16 (28.1%), CK in 7 (12.3%) patients. Among patients admitted within first 3 and 2 hours FABP was elevated in 23/29 (79.3%) and 11/12 (91%), TnI - in 9/29 (31%) and 5/12 (41.7%), CK in 3/29 (10.3%) and 1/12 (8.3%) patients, respectively. The use of lower cut-off of abnormality (0.4 ng/ml) increased proportion of patients with elevated TnI up to 56.1% in the group as a whole, to 48.3% and 50% among patients admitted within first 3 and 2 hours, respectively. Nevertheless proportion of patients with elevated FABP remained higher with difference being significant for the whole group and patients admitted within first 3 hours (p=0.004 and 0.016, respectively). CONCLUSION: Most patients with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome hospitalized within 2-6 hours after onset of pain had elevated levels of heart FABP.

[Feasibility of implementation of guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndrome in cardiac unit of a community hospital]. / Vozmozhnosti primeneniia sovremennykh rekomendatsii po lecheniiu ostrykh koronarnykh sindromov v infarktnom otdelenii gorodskoi bol'nitsy.

AIM: To assess feasibility of implementation of Guidelines of Russian Society of Cardiology (RSC) on the management of non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (adaptation of Guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology) in an ordinary noninvasive community hospital. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of inhospital management of 266 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes without persistent ST elevation admitted to coronary unit of a community hospital in January-July, 2001. MATERIAL AND RESULTS: Main characteristics of the group: mean age 69 years (34% >75 years), men - 56%, history of myocardial infarction - 38%, hypertension - 67%, diabetes - 23%, pain at rest as an index event - 98%, symptoms duration exceeding 20 min - 61%, ECG changes - 87% (42% ST deviation), signs of left ventricular failure - 14%. Myocardial infarction as index event was diagnosed in 32% of pts by serial measurement of total CK activity. There were no angiographies or revascularizations during hospital stay (20-/+6 days) because of absence of catheterization facilities. Medical treatment: antiplatelet agents - 99% (98% - aspirin) of patients; proportion of patients treated with heparins - 83% (low molecular weight heparins - 18,5%). Most of the patients received b-blockers (79%) and nitrates (78%). Use of calcium channel blockers was relatively low (15%). Few patients (20%) received statins. Inhospital rate of death and nonfatal myocardial infarction was 3,5% i 3%, respectively. Rate of chest pain recurrence was high (38% overall, 26% with ischemic ST-T ECG changes) and at least partially could be explained by the lack of invasive interventions. CONCLUSION: Management of patients with non ST elevation ACS in coronary unit of a community hospital during the period surveyed in this study was in line with corresponding RSC guidelines (as related to noninvasive treatment) except duration of hospitalization. This was associated with acceptable rate of death or/and myocardial infarction (6,5%) in a group of relatively high risk pts. High rate of angina recurrences during rather long hospital stay reflected absence of invasive treatment.

[Unstable angina: tissue-type plasminogen activator inhibitor and other hemostatic factors in aspirin and intravenous heparin administration]. / Nestabil'naia stenokardiaia: ingibitor tkanevogo aktivatora plazminogena i drugie faktory gemostaza pri prieme aspirina i vnutrivennom vvedenii geparina.

In order to assess the influence of oral aspirin (165 mg/day) and intravenous infusion of heparin (1000 U/h) on fibrinolysis in unstable angina we determined plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity and plasma contents of fibrinogen, antithrombin III, protein C on admission and on day 3 of treatment in a subgroup of 51 patients (25 aspirin, 26 heparin) from double blind randomized comparative trial of aspirin and i.v. heparin. Initial PAI activity was lower in the aspirin group presumably due to later admissions of these patients during the day. By day 3 activity of PAI increased from 13.5 +/- 2.0 to 18.2 +/- 1.93 U/ml, p = 0.018, and from 17.8 +/- 1.83 to 20.2 +/- 2.44 U/ml, ns, in heparin- and aspirin-treated patients, respectively. Fibrinogen level increased from 3.34 +/- 0.15 to 3.95 +/- 0.18 g/l, p < 0.001, and from 3.36 +/- 0.17 to 3.94 +/- 0.17 g/l p = 0.003 in aspirin and heparin groups, respectively. Protein C level was unchanged. A decrease in antithrombin III observed in heparin group (from 115 +/- 3.2% to 98 +/- 3.4%, p < 0.001) reflected specific action of the drug. Neither aspirin no heparin caused changes in hemostatic parameters which may be interpreted as profibrinolytic action. Changes of PAI are unlikely related to antithrombotic treatment and probably reflect its diurnal and "acute phase" fluctuations.