[Prognostic significance of the state of the blood coagulation system for the development of myocardial infarction and sudden death in patients with ischemic heart disease].

A 7-year follow-up covered 120 patients with coronary heart disease including 60 with angina pectoris and 60 myocardial infarction survivors. The patients were subjected to repeated examinations of the clotting factors and the fibrinolytic activity of the plasma. Account was taken of the cases of the development of primary or secondary myocardial infarction and sudden death. The patients with myocardial infarction (primary and secondary) had elevated levels of fibrinogen and reduced levels of plasma fibrinolytic activity whereas the patients who died suddenly had increased concentrations of fibrinogen. High fibrinogen level in the blood of coronary heart disease patients is considered as a prognostically unfavourable sign.