29
Views
8
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original article

Subjects with a shortened activated partial thromboplastin time show increased in‐hospital mortality associated with elevated D‐dimer, C‐reactive protein and glucose levels

, &
Pages 441-448 | Received 13 May 2003, Accepted 01 Jul 2003, Published online: 08 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Background: Shortened activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) values are associated with enhanced coagulation activation. However, the clinical relevance of shortened aPTTs is not well defined. The aim of this study was to determine the in‐hospital mortality rate in subjects with shortened aPTTs and the effects of polymorphism in plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)‐, t‐PA‐ and factor XIII gene on the coagulation status. D‐dimer, C‐reactive protein (CRP) and glucose, markers that have been related with increased mortality, were tested. Results: We found that a shortened aPTT on admission was associated with an increased risk of in‐hospital mortality (OR=2.6, 95% CI: 2.1–3.5). Non‐survivors with short aPTTs had significantly higher plasma D‐dimer, CRP and glucose levels compared with survivors. Subjects homozygous for PAI‐1 5G and t‐PA I alleles showed higher plasma D‐dimer levels compared with 4G/4G PAI‐1 (p=0.02) and D/D t‐PA (p=0.001) homozygotes, respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that PAI‐1 4G/5G and t‐PA I/D polymorphisms determine plasma D‐dimer levels in patients with shortened aPTT values. Preliminary results show that, among patients with short aPTTs, homozygosity for the hyperfibrinolytic PAI‐1 5G or tPA I alleles are at increased risk of in‐hospital mortality compared with 4G/4G PAI‐1 and D/D tPA homozygotes (OR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.3–5.5 and OR=5.5, 95% CI: 1.3–24.5, respectively).

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.