Changes of tissue factor pathway during the onset of acute myocardial infarction

Objective To observe the changes of tissue factor pathway (TFP) during the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods Sixty-nine patients with AMI were studied and 30 healthy volunteers served as control. Plasma TF and TFP inhibitor (TFPI) activities were assayed with the chromogenic substrate, TF and TFPI antigen were determined with ELISA. Plasma activated coagulating factor was determined by soluble TF assay, FⅦ activity was measured with clotting assay. Results Plasma TF and TFPI activities were significantly higher in patients with AMI than in controls [5.67 (1.77-54.95)mU/ml vs 2.36 (1.13-6.42) mU/ml, P0.01; 224.85 (86.65-512.12)% vs 138.75 (51.72-297.2)%, P0.01, respectively]. Similarly, TF antigen, TFPI antigen and FⅦa were also significantly higher. Whereas F Ⅶ activity was not significatly different from that in the controls. Conclusion During the onset of AMI, TFP is initiated and the blood is in hypercoagulable state.