On the Usefulness of Fibrinolysis Variables in the Characterization of a Risk Group for Myocardial Reinfarction

ABSTRACT. In a prospective study selected fibrinolysis variables were assessed in plasma samples from 29 consecutive patients recovering a first instance of acute myocardial infarction and the results were correlated with reinfarction during the next four years. Nine patients suffered a reinfarction leaving a group of 20 patients without evidence of relapse. The reinfarction group was characterized by lower tissue plasminogen activator activities in plasma euglobu‐lins (p<0.05), significantly higher plasma concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator antigen (p<0.002) and a tendency to a higher plasma level of plasminogen activator inhibition capacity. There were no significant differences between the groups in plasma concentrations of plasminogen, histidine‐rich glycoprotein, plasminogen kringle‐4‐binding‐protein, and α₂‐antiplasmin. 1987 Association for the Publication of the Journal of Internal Medicine