[Increased fibrinogen and factor VII activity levels in patients after myocardial infarction].

Functional and biochemical parameters of the haemostatic system in coronary heart disease (CHD) are still not well defined. Epidemiological studies indicate a positive correlation between fibrinogen (F) level and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Two independent ways of factor VII activation in the coagulation cascade suggest a special role of this factor in clot forming (Fig. 1). 22 patients (pts) under 55 yrs with a history of myocardial infarction (MT) and 22 healthy control men were studied for F level and factor VII activity (fVIIa). We found increased F level (M-363.3 mg/dl) and high level of VIIa (M-150.3%) in plasma of pts with a history of MI. Furthermore a strong positive correlation between fVIIa in plasma and F level (r = 0.62), serum cholesterol (chol) (r = 0.35), serum triglycerides (tg) (r = 0.32) (Tab. 2) was bound. Calculations were performed for all subjects: pts and control combined in one group. A possible influence of diet on fVIIa level is discussed. One should consider the usefulness of oral anticoagulants in the prophylaxis of MT.