FACTOR VII-PHOSPHOLIPID COMPLEX IN MALE SURVIVIRS OF ACUTE MYCORDIAL INFARCTION

The finding of coagulation factor VII-phospholipid complex in plasma of some men at high risk for cardiovascular disease has previously been reported (1). Factor VII present in such complexes is markedly activated, and this activitation is reversible upon treatment with phospholipase C.

We report here on the presence of this activated form of factor VII in 100 male survivors of acute myocardial infarction The subjects were recruited from 475 patients in the placebo group of the prospective double-blind Warfarin Re-Infarction Study (WARIS).

Two age groups were defined:55 years or younger, and older than 55. In each age group the 25 patients with the highest or lowest conventional risk factor scores (total cholestrol, systolic blood pressure, and smoking habits) were selected. The amount of factor Vll-phospholipid complex was estimated as factor VII activity before and after treatment with phospholipase C.

The factor VII-phospholipid complex was found to be responsible for 29% (mean value) of the total factor VII activity in the whole material. The level of this activated form of factor VII did not correlate with age or level of conventional risk factor score, but showed a highly significant positive correlation with serum triglycerides in all the subgroups, as well as in the total material (r=0,88, p<0.0001).

Presence of the factor VII-phospholipid complex contributes to the procoagulant state in hypertriglyceridemia, and its measurement may constitute an additional screening method for men at risk for cardiovascular disease. Ref.: (1) Dalaker K., Hjermann I, and Prydz H. Br J Haematol 1985,61,315