Serial changes in fibrinolysis and coagulation activation markers in acute and convalescent phase of ischemic stroke

Background - The changes in the activity of a number of plasma markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis have previously been studied in patients with ischemic stroke, with conflicting results. We aimed to find out the changes in the activities of a wide array of markers of the coagulation and the fibrinolytic system of mildly or moderately affected first-ever ischemic stroke patients. Methods - In a prospective, longitudinal, case-control study, we studied plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) activity, tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA:Ag), d-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F 1+2), and thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) levels in 55 consecutive patients on admission, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after an ischemic stroke. Sex- and age-matched controls were studied once. All patients underwent blood sampling at each study time point; comprehensive stroke risk factors were recorded, and the etiology of the ischemic stroke was determined. All patients were contacted 3 years later for possible recurrent ischemic events. Results - PAI-1 activity was increased in the acute phase and at 3 months, D-dimer levels were significantly higher at 1 week and 1 month after stroke, whereas t-PA:Ag, TAT and F 1+2 levels remained stable during the whole study period. Conclusions - The changes of the fibrinolytic and coagulation system activity in the patients with mild or moderate ischemic stroke appeared minor compared with the results of previous studies, which included more severely ill patients.