ISSN:
1439-6327
Keywords:
Key words Psychological stress
;
Tissue plasminogen activator
;
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1
;
Atherosclerosis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) promotes fibrinolysis, and impaired fibrinolysis is associated with atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) inhibits t-PA expression. The effects of acute laboratory stressors on tPA and tPA/PAI-1 complexes were assessed in a sample of 11 cardiac patients. Participants were randomly assigned to either a stress or relaxation condition at time 1, and the alternative condition at time 2. Blood samples were taken before (pre) and after (post) each session and participants completed a battery of psychological questionnaires. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a statistically significant decrease in tPA (P=0.01) and tPA-PAI-1 complexes (P=0.04) during the mental stress condition. Anger-in had a strong relationship to decreases in tPA/PAI-1 levels in the stress condition (r=0.68, P 〈 0.05). Relaxation had no significant effect on tPA and tPA/PAI-1 levels. These data suggest that decreased fibrinolysis mediates the relationship between mental stress and atherosclerosis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004210000299
