Heparin resistance and plasma fibrinogen in elderly subjects with and without occlusive vascular disease

Heparin resistance was found to be higher in a group of elderly people with a history of coronary or cerebral thrombosis than in a group of apparently healthy people of similar age. Heparin resistance in both these groups was higher than in a group of healthy younger people. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was correlated with heparin resistance.

The plasma fibrinogen concentration and the heparin precipitable fraction of plasma was raised in the elderly subjects. “Fibrinogen B” was present in a high proportion of the elderly subjects and it is suggested that this is identical with the heparin precipitable fraction of plasma. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was also increased in the elderly subjects.