Prothrombotic state and elevated levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in mitral stenosis with and without atrial fibrillation.

Patients with mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm are in a prothrombotic state and have fibrinolytic dysfunction, shown by an increase in levels of the inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator, D-dimer, and modified antithrombin III. This state may be observed even in patients without dilated left atria (diameter < or =45 mm).