Plasma Fibrinopeptide A and Beta-Thromboglobulin in Patients with Chest Pain

Summary

Plasma levels of β-thromboglobulin (BTG) and fibrinopeptide A (FPA), markers of platelet release and thrombin generation respectively, were measured in 48 patients within 3 days of admission to hospital for acute chest pain. Twenty-one patients had a confirmed myocardial infarction (MI); 15 had unstable angina without infarction; and 12 had chest pain due to noncardiac causes. FPA and BTG were also measured in 23 control hospital patients of similar age. Mean plasma BTG levels were not significantly different in the 4 groups. Mean plasma FPA levels were significantly higher in all 3 groups with acute chest pain when compared to the control subjects (p < 0.01), but there were no significant differences between the 3 groups. Increased FPA levels in patients with acute chest pain are not specific for myocardial infarction, nor for ischaemic chest pain.

Keywords

Fibrinopeptide A - Beta-thromboglobulin - Chest pain

• References

• 1 Kaplan KL. β-thromboglobulin. In Progress in Haemostasis and Thrombosis. Spaet TH. (ed) Grune and Stratton; New York: 1980. 5 153-178
• 2 Wilner GD. Molecular basis for measurement of circulating fibrinogen derivatives. In Progress in Haemostasis and Thrombosis. Spaet TH. (ed) Grune and Stratton; New York: 1980. 4 211-248
• 3 Rasi V, Torstila I, Ikkala E. β-thromboglobulin in acute myocardial infarction. Acta Med Scand (Suppl) 1980; 642: 85-91
• 4 Denham J, Fisher M, James G, Hassan M. β-thromboglobulin in venous and arterial thrombosis. Lancet 1977; 1: 1154
• 5 Johnsson H, Orinius E, Paul C. Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Thromb Res 1979; 16: 255-260
• 6 Rowley JM, Hampton JR. Diagnostic criteria for myocardial infarction. Br J Hosp Med 1981; 26: 253-258
• 7 Bolton AE, Ludlam CA, Moore S, Pepper DS, Cash JD. Three approaches to the radioimmunoassay of human β-thromboglobulin. Br J Haematol 1976; 32: 233-328
• 8 Nossel HL, Yudelman I, Cranfield RE, Butler Jnr VP, Spondis K, Wilner GD, Quereshi GD. Measurement of fibrinopeptide A in human blood. J Clin Invest 1974; 54: 45-53
• 9 Kockum C. Radioimmunoassay of fibrinogen A - clinical applications. Thromb Res 1976; 8: 225-236
• 10 Neri-Semeri GG, Gensini GF, Abbate R, Mugnaini C, Favilla S, Brunelli C, Chierchia S, Parodi O. Increased fibrinopeptide A formation and thromboxane A₂ production in patients with ischaemic heart disease: Relationships to coronary pathoanatomy, risk factors, and clinical manifestations. Am Heart J 1981; 101: 185-194
• 11 Harenberg J, Haas R, Zimmermann R. Measurement of fibrinopeptide A in patients treated with phenoprocoumon. Thromb Haemostas 1981; 45: 282-284
• 12 Hughes A, Daunt G, Vass G, Wiekes J. Beta-thromboglobulin and myocardial infarction. Thromb Haemostas 1979; 42: 357
• 13 O’Brien JR, Etherington MD, Shuttleworth RD, Calwell WH. Platelet function in acute myocardial infarction patients compared with controls. Thromb Haemostas 1980; 44: 96-99
• 14 Heptinstall S, Mulley GP, Taylor PM, Mitchell JR A. Platelet release reaction in myocardial infarction. Br Med J 1980; 1: 80-81