Plasmin-α2-antiplasmin Complex in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

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  • FIfor the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators
    for the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators
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Abstract
Plasmin-α2-antiplasmin complex (PAP) is an index of recent fibrinolytic activity. We examined PAP levels in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to determine whether these levels are correlated with clinical characteristics associated with stroke risk. We obtained blood for measurement of PAP in a non-random sample of 586 patients with AF on entering the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation III Study. PAP levels were measured with an ELISA assay. PAP values were transformed with a natural logarithm (PAPln) prior to all analyses. Older age, female gender, recent congestive heart failure, decreasing fractional shortening, recent onset of AF, and coronary artery disease were each univariately associated with higher levels of PAP (all p 160 mm Hg, prior thromboembolism, recent congestive heart failure, poor left ventricular function, and women over age 75) had higher PAP levels than low-risk patients (antilog mean PAPln 5.6 vs 4.9, p <0.001, two-sample t-test). PAP levels in patients with AF are associated with clinical characteristics predictive of thromboembolism. Elevated PAP levels are particularly associated with poor left ventricular function and are not affected by anticoagulation. PAP levels may be a marker of stroke risk in patients with AF. Presented in part at the American Heart Association 22nd annual Joint Conference on Stroke and the Cerebral Circulation, Anaheim, CA, February, 1997.
Funding Information
  • Stroke and Trauma, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01-NS-24224)

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