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Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) experience impaired balance between fibrinolysis and coagulation, manifested by increased prothrombotic tendency and intensified inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the TAFI activity level (thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor) in the plasma of AAA patients. Plasma levels of PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1), urokinase-type plasminogen activator and uPAR (urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor) were measured as markers of fibrinolytic activity. The study showed that the activity of the thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor in the plasma of AAA patients was significantly lower than in the plasma of the control individuals (64.6 ± 10.1 vs. 54.2 ± 10.9%, P < 0.0001). TAFI activity positively correlated with the white blood cell count (r = 0.486, P < 0.005). The uPAR concentration in the AAA patients was statistically significantly higher than in the control group and positively correlated with TAFI activity (r = 0.409, P = 0.02). The levels of PAI-1 and D-dimers (fibrin fragments) were significantly higher in patients with AAA than in the control group (44.3 ± 17.5 vs. 21.7 ± 8.7 ng/ml and 1869.6 ± 1490.1 vs. 181.5 ± 188.6 ng/ml, respectively). Lowered activity of the fibrinolysis inhibitor TAFI may heighten the blood fibrinolytic potential in AAA patients and contribute to the development of comorbidities. Therefore, TAFI participation in AAA pathogenesis cannot be excluded.

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disorder with systemic involvement. It has recently been established that psoriasis is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Chronic skin-specific inflammation may promote atherosclerosis. Myocardial infarction or stroke can also be a result of underlying haemostasis disorders. Disorders in fibrinolysis and thrombosis in patients with psoriasis have been observed by many authors. Aim: This study points to the key role played by the tissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation and the potential influence of microvascular disorders in inflamed psoriatic skin on TF and TFPI activity. Material and methods: The study included 47 patients with active psoriasis vulgaris, hospitalized in the Dermatological Ward of the Regional Specialist Hospital, Research and Development Centre in Wroclaw, as well as 18 people from the control group. Results: There were significant differences in the blood concentrations of TF and TFPI in patients with psoriasis when compared to the control group. A low TFPI concentration in psoriatic patients may indicate an increased risk of atherosclerosis. Interpretation of a decreased level of TF in patients with psoriasis is difficult because it seems to be at odds with observations among patients with other atherosclerosis risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes or smoking. Conclusions: It appears that further studies are necessary to explain this problem, perhaps to include an evaluation of TF levels in psoriatic skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]