Activation of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in patients with CLI is not normalized after surgical revascularisation.

Objective: To study the activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis before, during and after surgical revascularisation in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI).

Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Forty patients with CLI underwent femoro-popliteal or femoro-distal reconstruction and were compared to a control-group. Measurements of prothrombin-fragment 1+2 (F1+2) and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) assessed activation of coagulation. Fibrinolysis was determined by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and fibrin degradation product (D-dimer). The inflammatory mediators: Interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2-rec), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) was also analysed.

Results: Patients (in 35 of the 40 reconstruction was possible) were operated upon using either vein (n=23) or ePTFE (n=12) grafts. Patients with CLI had a preoperative prothrombotic state as indicated by high TAT-levels and also ongoing fibrinolysis with high levels of t-PA and D-dimer. After reperfusion an ongoing prothrombotic state for the first week was demonstrated. A significant as well as defective fibrinolysis was also seen with increased levels of tPA and D-dimer unopposed by PAI-1 after one week and also after 30 days. Increased levels of inflammatory mediators IL-6, IL-10 and MCP-1 was observed after reperfusion and normalised after 30 days.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates significant disturbances of both the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems before, during and after revascularisation for CLI. This was accompanied by release of inflammatory mediators. A prothrombotic state and increased fibrinolysis were evident also 30 days after successful revascularisation.