Hyperlipoproteinaemia and reduced fibrinolytic activity in healthy coronary high-risk men.

One hundred and four consecutive men from the non-symptomatic hyperlipoproteinaemic group of the Oslo Study were examined with regard to their fibrinolytic response to venous occlusion of the arm. Sixty-eight per cent showed reduced fibrinolytic activity as compared to 24% of 21 age-matched healthy coronary low-risk men. In the hyperlipoproteinaemic group, 55 individuals had been on a moderate lipid-lowering diet for about 3 years, whereas the other 49 had not (controls). The diet group showed a market tendency towards normalization of their lipoprotein patterns, but this was not significantly associated with normalization of the fibrinolytic activity. Out of 20 men with type IV hyperlipoproteinaemia, 95% showed reduced fibrinolytic activity. The association between hypertriglyceridaemia (type IV hyperlipoproteinaemia) and reduced fibrinolytic activity might possibly be explained by a reduced lipoprotein lipase activity in these individuals.