Evidence that fibrinolytic changes in paediatric obesity translate into a hypofibrinolytic state

SummaryPaediatric obesity, like adulthood obesity, is associated with an increase of fibrinolysis inhibitors. No study, however, has evaluated the impact of these changes on plasma fibrinolytic capacity. We investigated plasma fibrinolysis and the role therein of the fibrinolytic changes associated with obesity in 59 obese children (body mass index > 95th percentile) and 40 matched controls. Fibrinolysis was investigated by measuring 1) the plasma levels of relevant fibrinolytic factors; 2) the in vitro fibrinolytic capacity under different conditions, using a microplate plasma clot lysis assay; 3) the circulating levels of markers of clotting and fibrinolysis activation. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), total thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and fibrinogen levels were higher in obese children as compared to controls (p