Exercise-induced fibrinolysis--fact or fiction?

The effect of strenuous exercise on the fibrinolytic and coagulation mechanisms was examined in six healthy male subjects. Five min bicycle exercise at a work-rate of 800 to 1200 kpm. min-1 produced an abrupt increase in plasma plasminogen activator levels which disappeared after 90 min. However, there was no change in early or late fibrin degradation products nor was there a change in fibrinopeptide A levels or beta-thromboglobulin levels after exercise although activated partial thromboplastin times were significantly shortened. It is concluded that strenuous exercise does not produce any real increase in fibrinogen-fibrin conversion nor any real increase in the breakdown of these proteins. The role of exercise-induced release of plasminogen activator remains unclear, but probably helps to maintain plasma levels in a discontinuous manner concurrently with the continuous low-level secretion from the vascular wall. The shortening of partial thromboplastin time may be due to the raised levels of plasminogen activator changing the activation state of other coagulation factors.