Severity of coronary artery disease and basal fibrinolysis.

Basal venous blood levels of several components of the fibrinolytic enzyme system (plasminogen activator, plasminogen, fibrin degradation products, alpha 2-antiplasmin, and alpha 2-macroglobulin) were measured in 100 white men with angiographically defined coronary artery disease. The tests of fibrinolysis were not related to the severity of coronary artery disease, as indicated either by the number of vessels involved or by a coronary score system. Fibrinogen levels, however, did show a modest association with the extent of coronary atheroma (r = 0.21, p less than 0.05). Triglyceride levels were associated with the inhibitors of fibrinolysis: positively with alpha 2-antiplasmin (r = 0.31, p less than 0.005) and negatively with alpha 2-macroglobulin (r = -0.25, p less than 0.05). The alpha 2-antiplasmin levels were significantly elevated in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia. Neither smoking nor beta-blockade had any effect on the tests of fibrinolysis. This study adds support to the association of plasma fibrinogen with ischaemic heart disease.