Exercise-Induced Fibrinolysis – Fact or Fiction?

Summary

The effect of strenuous exercise on the fibrinolytic and coagulation mechanisms was examined in six healthy male subjects. Five min bicycle exercise at a work-rate of 800 to 1200 kpm. min⁻¹ produced an abrupt increase in plasma plasminogen activator levels which disappeared after 90 min. However, there was no change in early or late fibrin degradation products nor was there a change in fibrinopeptide A levels or βthromboglobulin levels after exercise although activated partial thromboplastin times were significantly shortened. It is concluded that strenuous exercise does not produce any real increase in fibrinogen-fibrin conversion nor any real increase in the breakdown of these proteins. The role of exercise-induced release of plasminogen activator remains unclear, but probably helps to maintain plasma levels in a discontinuous manner concurrently with the continuous low-level secretion from the vascular wall. The shortening of partial thromboplastin time may be due to the raised levels of plasminogen activator changing the activation state of other coagulation factors.

Keywords

Fibrinolysis - Plasminogen activator - Exercise - Fibrin degradation

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