Gender Differences in Endothelial Tissue-type Plasminogen Activator Release in Middle-aged Adults.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-3-2005

Abstract

Between the ages of 45 and 65 years, the incidence of myocardial infarction is three times higher in men compared with women. In addition, the prevalence of thrombotic stroke is ∼50% greater in men than women (1). The mechanisms behind this gender difference in atherothrombotic events remain unclear. Impaired endothelial regulation of fibrinolysis, specifically reduced capacity to release tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), has been linked directly to increased atheromatous plaque burden and increased coronary atherothrombosis (2,3). Endothelial t-PA release is the predominant physiologic mechanism governing endogenous fibrinolysis. Currently, it is unknown if a gender difference in endothelial t-PA release exists. If so, this may contribute to the gender-related disparity in the prevalence and incidence of atherothrombotic events in middle-aged adults. We tested the hypothesis that the capacity of the endothelium to release t-PA is greater in middle-aged women compared with men.

Publication Title

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Volume

45

Issue

9

First Page

1547

Last Page

1549

DOI of Published Version

10.1016/j.jacc.2005.02.025

Publisher

Elsevier Biomedical

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