Features of hemostasis in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Coronary thrombosis is the key pathogenic mechanism of acute heart attack, including non-ST segment elevation (NSTEMI). Given that, the detection of reliable markers of hemostasis disorders is important in the process of optimizing the diagnosis of NSTEMI. Material and methods: The study was conducted on 54 patients with NSTEMI (average age 69.7±1.5 years). In 60% of cases, 3-vessel disease was noted; 56% of patients had ejection fraction >50%, and Killip class I of heart failure was revealed in 78% of patients. With the help of the STA-Liatest (France) equipment, the blood tests determined the following hemostasis markers: fibrin monomers (FM), thrombotic complex activity of factors II, VII and X. Additional markers like Procoag, the coagulation indicator dependent on circulating phospholipids or SPA, D-dimers, as well as factors C, S and antithrombin III were appreciated. The values of these markers determined by the same method in 20 healthy persons (control group) were used as normal values. Results: Circulating level of FM on admission was increased twice, while the values of Procoag and SPA were significantly decreased by 35.3% compared to the control. Factors C, S and antithrombin III were 54-80% of the control value range, and D-dimers were within the permissible values. In the acute phase of the heart attack, a deterioration of hemostasis indicators was noted, excepting the D-dimers. The levels of FM determined 24 and 72 hours after revascularization were consistently increased (up to 3.8 times) compared to the control, while Procoag and SPA decreased by 54-57%. Further reduction of factors C, S and antithrombin III accounted for 42-54% of normal indicators. After 5 days, an improvement in hemostasis markers was observed, but a significant difference still remained comparing to the control group. Conclusions: The hemostasis particularities discovered in patients with NSTEMI indicate the features of an activated prothrombotic status, and FM could be an important diagnostic marker of NSTEMI, due to its most significant deviation from the normal value (>100%). It can reliably reflect the thrombin level, which triggers the last enzymatic phase of thrombus formation.