Increased tissue factor pathway inhibitor activity, activated protein C-sensitivity linked to MI
THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Young women with myocardial infarction (MI) have higher tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) levels in comparison to those without MI, with increased TFPI activities and activated protein C (APC)-sensitivity correlating with MI, according to a study published online Sept. 5 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Kristien Winckers, M.D., from the Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands, and colleagues investigated the influence of the TFPI/protein S anticoagulant system on the risk of MI in women younger than 50 years. A total of 205 women with MI and 638 controls were enrolled, and underwent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify TFPI and protein S. Thrombin generation tests were used to determine TFPI/protein S activity and APC-sensitivity ratio.
The investigators found that women with MI had elevated levels of TFPI (135.9 ± 40 percent versus 124.2 ± 41 percent) resulting in increased TFPI/protein S activities and increased APC-sensitivity. Increased TFPI activity was correlated with MI (adjusted odds ratio [OR] quartile one versus quartile four, 2.1). APC-sensitivity was also correlated with MI (adjusted OR quartile one versus quartile four, 1.7; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.9 to 3.2).
"Women with MI have increased TFPI levels compared with controls. Consequently, the TFPI/protein S activity and APC-sensitivity are increased in women with MI," the authors write.
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