MedWire News: Researchers have found a positive association between carotid artery intima media thickness (ITM) and levels of prothrombin fragment (F)1+2 in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

The findings “suggest that an increased F1+2 level might contribute to development of atherosclerosis in subjects with ischemic heart disease,” say Loghman Henareh (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden) and co-authors.

The team investigated the relationship between atherosclerosis and markers of coagulation (F1+2), fibrinolysis inhibition (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1), and inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]) in 123 patients aged 31–80 years old within a year of MI.

As reported in the journal Thrombosis Research, there was a significant and positive correlation between both F1+2 and hs-CRP levels and carotid IMT thickness.

Interestingly, there was a significant and negative correlation between levels of PAI-1 and carotid IMT thickness. The researchers say this may be due to statin or ACE inhibitor treatment in the patients or the effect of PAI-1 on intimal components.

In regression analysis, after accounting for PAI-1 and F1+2 levels, age and systolic blood pressure were significant markers for carotid IMT.

“Future research on hemostatic factors in patients with ischemic heart disease could improve our knowledge of pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its complications,” the researchers conclude.

They suggest: “It may help us to find new and more effective ways to prevent atherosclerotic disease.”

MedWire (www.medwire-news.md) is an independent clinical news service provided by Current Medicine Group, a trading division of Springer Healthcare Limited. © Springer Healthcare Ltd; 2009

Free abstract