Thrombomodulin--endothelial thrombin receptor in blood of patients with unstable angina pectoris.

BACKGROUND: Thrombomodulin (TM) a membrane receptor for thrombin generated in blood in vivo, is present on the surface of vascular endothelium cells. The aim of our work was the determination of thrombomodulin in the blood of patients with unstable angina pectoris. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the study took part 87 patients with unstable angina pectoris (40 women and 47 men) at age 41-79 years. Thrombomodulin was determined in citrated blood plasma with the use of enzyme immunoassay ELISA with the diagnostic kit manufactured by American Diagnostica. RESULTS: Statistically significant higher thrombomodulin concentration (sTM) was found in the patients when compared with the values recorded in control group. Elevated sTM levels depended on patients age and they were significantly higher in patients over 50 years old. There were no statistically significant differences with respect to patients gender and coexistent risk factors such as arterial hypertension, diabetes or smoking, but significantly higher sTM concentration was observed in patients with high serum cholesterol level. CONCLUSION: Elevated sTM concentrations result from the damage to vascular endothelium cells by the atheromatous process manifested in unstable angina pectoris.