Hypertriglyceridemia, but not hypercholesterolemia, is associated with the alterations of fibrinolytic system.

Derangements of the blood coagulation-fibrinolytic system are thought to be associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have identified the alterations in patients with advanced atherosclerosis, however, studies on subjects without apparent cardiovascular complications are scarce. To evaluate the potential risk of thrombosis, we examined the serum lipid levels and fibrinolytic parameters in 54 subjects of different types of primary hyperlipoproteinemia (HL) and 18 normolipidemic controls. Plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen levels were significantly higher in type IV HL than in the controls. Serum triglyceride concentrations were correlated with t-PA (r = 0.537, p < 0.01) and PAI-1 (r = 0.249, p < 0.05) antigen levels, while serum cholesterol levels did not. The current study demonstrated that hypertriglyceridemia, but not hypercholesterolemia, is associated with the alterations of fibrinolytic system.