Increased plasma fibrinopeptide A levels during attacks induced by hyperventilation in patients with coronary vasospastic angina

Division of Cardiology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.

Plasma fibrinopeptide A levels, beta-thromboglobulin levels and platelet factor 4 levels were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before and after hyperventilation in 12 patients with coronary vasospastic angina and in 12 control subjects matched for age and gender. In all 12 study patients, anginal attacks accompanied by electrocardiographic (ECG) changes (ST elevation in 11 patients and ST depression in 1 patient) were induced by hyperventilation. Coronary angiography was performed on 11 of the 12 patients, and coronary artery spasm with the same ECG changes was induced by intracoronary injection of acetylcholine in all 11. The plasma fibrinopeptide A levels increased significantly from 2.0 +/- 0.4 to 10.0 +/- 2.4 ng/ml during the attack (p less than 0.001) in the study patients, but remained unchanged before and after hyperventilation in the control subjects. The plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 remained unchanged after hyperventilation in both groups. Our data indicate that coronary artery spasm may induce thrombin generation and trigger thrombus formation in the coronary artery.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Tun and I. A. Khan Myocardial Infarction with Normal Coronary Arteries: The Pathologic and Clinical Perspectives Angiology, May 1, 2001; 52(5): 299 - 304. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. De Lorenzo, A. Noorani, and V.V. Kakkar Current trends in the management of thromboembolic events QJM, April 1, 2001; 94(4): 179 - 185. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Ogawa, H. Soejima, K. Takazoe, S. Miyamoto, I. Kajiwara, H. Shimomura, T. Sakamoto, M. Yoshimura, K. Kugiyama, M. Kimura, et al. Increased Autoantibodies Against Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein in Coronary Circulation in Patients with Coronary Spastic Angina Angiology, March 1, 2001; 52(3): 167 - 174. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. M. Biasucci, G. Liuzzo, G. Caligiuri, G. Quaranta, F. Andreotti, G. Sperti, W. van de Greef, A. G. Rebuzzi, C. Kluft, and A. Maseri Temporal Relation Between Ischemic Episodes and Activation of the Coagulation System in Unstable Angina Circulation, June 15, 1996; 93(12): 2121 - 2127. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. Kaikita, H. Ogawa, H. Yasue, T. Sakamoto, H. Suefuji, H. Sumida, and K. Okumura Soluble P-Selectin Is Released Into the Coronary Circulation After Coronary Spasm Circulation, October 1, 1995; 92(7): 1726 - 1730. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. Amiral State-of-the-Art Review: Usefulness of Laboratory Techniques for Evaluating Antithrombotic Efficacy of New Therapeutic Strategies Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, September 1, 1995; 1(4): 243 - 259. [Abstract] [PDF]