Specific elevation in plasma tissue plasminogen activator antigen concentrations in South Asians relative to Europeans

Forouhi, N.G., Rumley, A., Lowe, G.D., McKeigue, P. and Sattar, N. (2003) Specific elevation in plasma tissue plasminogen activator antigen concentrations in South Asians relative to Europeans. Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis, 14(8), pp. 755-760.

Abstract

Elevated levels of haemostatic factors including tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen are associated with coronary heart disease in Europeans but data in South Asians are sparse. We performed a cross-sectional study of 111 healthy men and women aged 40-55 years (56 European and 55 Asian) frequency matched across a wide range of body mass index (17 - 34 kg/m(2)). All subjects had detailed adiposity and metabolic measurements, and five haemostatic factors were determined. South Asians had greater insulin resistance than Europeans (fasting insulin geometric mean, 7.1 versus 4.7 muU/ml, and 2-h insulin, 37.3 versus 14.1 muU/ml, respectively). There were no significant ethnic differences in the mean concentrations of fibrinogen, factor VII, von Willebrand factor, or fibrin D- dimer (P gt 0.10). However, the t-PA antigen concentration was significantly elevated in South Asians compared with Europeans (mean, 10.6 versus 8.2 ng/ml, P = 0.001). t-PA correlated positively in both ethnic groups with features of the metabolic syndrome but the ethnic difference in t-PA persisted after adjustment for adiposity, metabolic and inflammatory variables (beta = 2.0, 95% confidence interval = 0.5-3.6, P = 0.012). We therefore hypothesize that elevated t-PA antigen may be a novel mechanism contributing to increased cardiovascular risk in South Asians.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Rumley, Dr Ann and Lowe, Professor Gordon and Sattar, Professor Naveed
• Authors: Forouhi, N.G., Rumley, A., Lowe, G.D., McKeigue, P., and Sattar, N.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis
• ISSN: 0957-5235