In a previous study we have shown that plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) decreased
in normal healthy volunteers during the day from 6.3±3.1 IU/ml (X±ISD) at 7.15 a.m.
to 2.8±2.3 IU/ml at 3 p.m.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of major elective abdominal
surgery on PAI. Eight patients received 2,500 Xal units of low molecular weight heparin
(LogiparinTM) (Gr.l) and 7 patients received 3,500 Xal units of Logiparin (Gr.2). The PAI activity
was measured amidolytically according to Chmielewska et al 1983.
The plasma level of PAI (IU/ml) was (X±1SD):
We found that PAI did not decrease during the day of surgery but the PAI level was
significantly higher on the morning after surgery than the previous morning (p ‹ 0.05).
The 5th postoperative day the PAI level had returned to pre-operative values in the
morning, but did not decrease during the day as seen in normal volunteers. The PAI
levels were not influenced by the different doses of heparin.
Thus PAI was found to increase postoperatively and the normal decrease in PAI during
the day seems to be abolished for at least five days after surgery.
