Objectives: 

Hypercoagulability and reduced fibrinolytic capacity, often seen in menopausal women, are associated with hypertriglyceridemia. The important role of thrombogenesis in coronary artery disease (CAD) is supported by the fact that initial high levels of coagulation factor VII (VIIc), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) are all independent risk factors for CAD. The mutual correlation among serum lipids, fibrinolytic enzymes: tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), and factor VII in women during menopause was studied.

Materials: 

Study comprised a total number of 76 women divided into two groups: group of women in perimenopause and group of women in postmenopause. Lipid level (HDL-CH, LDL-CH, TG, total cholesterol) was determined with colorimetric-spectrophotometric method, fibrinolytic enzymes were determined by using immunoenzyme sandwich method and factor VII of coagulation with the method of deficiency plasma.Data were entered into a data-base and were statistically analyzed. Correlation analysis (Pearson's coefficient) was used for assessing the relationships between the examined parameters.

Results: 

Fybrinolytic activator (t-PA) was in poor negative correlation with fibrinolytic inhibitor ( r = - 0.18), factor VII of coagulation (r = - 0.28), total cholesterol (r = - 0.17) and triglycerides ( r = - 0.35), but in weak positive correlation with HDL-CH (r = 0.73) as well. There was a positive correlation between PAI-1 on one hand and factor VII (r = 0.18), triglycerides (r = 0.245) and total cholesterol (r = 0.14) on the other hand, but there was also a weak negative correlation between PAI-1 and HDL-CH ( r = - 0.048).

Conclusions: 

These data suggest that serum lipids, particularly triglycerides have a close relationship with thrombogenesis as evidenced by activated f. VII in the extrinsic coagulation system and also by elevated PAI-1 activities in fibrinolysis.