Increased plasminogen activator inhibitor and tissue plasminogen activator levels in subjects with electrocardiographic abnormality indicative of ischaemic heart disease: a cross-sectional study in Norsjö, Sweden.

The plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen concentration and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity were measured in a random sample of 260 subjects, 30, 40, 50, or 60 years of age. Electrocardiographic Q, ST and/or ST-T changes, suggestive of definite or possible ischaemic heart disease (IHD), were found in 21% of the 50-year-old and 37% of the 60-year-old subjects. As compared to subjects lacking such signs, plasma tPA and PAI levels were significantly increased in the 60-year-old group, and PAI tended to be increased in the 50-year-old group. Previous case-control studies, usually performed at specialized centres and liable to sampling biases, have suggested an association between increased PAI levels and ischaemic heart disease. This cross-sectional population study provides independent data that patients with electrocardiographic signs of IHD have increased levels of both PAI and tPA antigen.