[Factor VII and protein-C markers are no prognostic indicators in acute coronary heart disease].

Fibrinogen and factor VII have been identified as independent risk factors in cardiovascular morbidity. A relationship between factor VII coagulant activity (VII:C) and prognostically different manifestations of acute coronary heart disease (aCHD) has recently been suggested. In order to validate and to extend these observations, we prospectively studied patients admitted for aCHD (n = 76) and a control group without aCHD (CG, n = 27). According to their clinical evolution, the aCHD cases were subdivided into unstable angina (UA, n = 26), myocardial infarction without (M-I, n = 23) and with heart failure (M-II, n = 27). Before treatment blood was collected for the following assays: fibrinogen, factor VII procoagulant activity (VII:C), amidolytic test (VII:am), immunological (VII:Ag), protein C functional (PCf) and immunological (PC:Ag). We found no statistically significant difference between control and aCHD cases and between their subgroups for any assay of fibrinogen, factor VII and protein C. The VII:C/VII:Ag ratio was higher for UA, M-I, M-II and the entire aCHD group compared with the CG. However, it was not possible to separate the prognostically different aCHD subgroups from each other by ratios of measured values. Therefore, determinations of factor VII, protein C and fibrinogen in aCHD have no prognostic relevance.