Summary
Aims
To study long-term effects of enalapril on mass concentrations of tissue plasminogen
activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), tPA/PAI-1-complex and von
Willebrand factor (vWF) in both genders with uncomplicated myocardial infarction.
Methods and results
More than three months after an uncomplicated myocardial infarction 82 survivors (46
males, 36 females) were randomised to enalapril/placebo. PAI-1, tPA, tPA/PAI-1-complex
and vWF were measured after two weeks, six and 12 months following randomisation.
PAI-1 decreased significantly in both genders in the enalapril-treated group after
two weeks, with a maximum decrease at six months (mean reduction: 31% equal to 9.8
µg X L–1, CI: 5.2 to 14.5 µg X L–1, p = 0.0001) and remained significantly lower at
12 months. Mass concentration of tPA decreased significantly (mean reduction; 1.81
µg X L–1, CI: 0.903 to 2.708 µg X L–1, p <0.001) after two weeks treatment in both
genders but returned to baseline values at 12 months. The tPA/PAI-1-complex decreased
and was significantly lower (mean reduction 0.96 µg X L–1, CI: 0.36 to 1.56 µg X L–1,
p = 0.003) in the enalapril group after two weeks and six months (p = 0.037). No decrease
of vWF was seen in the enalapril group.
Conclusions
Enalapril treatment up to one year depressed mass concentrations of PAI-1 and transiently
tPA and tPA/PAI-1 complex indicating an improvement of the fibrinolytic balance in
both genders with uncomplicated myocardial infarction.
Keywords
Fibrinolysis - tissue plasminogen activator - plasminogen activator inhibitor - myocardial
infarction - ACE-inhibitor