Rheological and clotting changes in the immediate post-myocardial infarction period.

Several coagulative, fibrinolytic, and rheologic indices were studied in a large group of patients with acute myocardial infarction. The results were compared with those obtained in a normal control group. Changes of blood and plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, and fibrinolytic activity, compatible with a hypercoagulable state, were found in the immediate post-infarction period. However, elevated AT III levels as compared to control group were observed. This could be interpreted as a reactive response to the hypercoagulable state. Significant correlations could be observed between blood viscosity and Ht, plasma viscosity and fibrinogen, fibrinogen and fibrinolytic levels and between fibrinogen and ESR.