Association of functional thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) with conventional cardiovascular risk factors and its correlation with other hemostatic factors in a Spanish population

Our aim was to determine the associations of functional thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) levels in plasma with conventional cardiovascular risk factors, sex and age, and possible correlations with other hemostatic factors in a Spanish population. We included 303 individuals from a Spanish population. Hemostatic factors such as von Willebrand Factor, VII ag, VIIIc, XIc, XIIc, APCR, protein S, protein C, antithrombin, fibrinogen, and t-PA antigen were assayed. The functional TAFI assay was based on the activation of plasma TAFI with thrombin-thrombomodulin, and the measure of TAFIa activity on the hippuryl-Arg substrate. There were no statistical differences in mean values of functional TAFI among the various female age groups or among the different male age groups, with or without cardiovascular risk factors. Only women younger than 30 years of age showed lower levels of functional TAFI compared to older women. No differences were found among men of different ages. Adjusted for sex and age, hemostatic factors did not show a correlation with functional TAFI levels in plasma. Women with hypercholesterolemia showed higher levels of TAFI; other conventional cardiovascular risk factors did not modify functional TAFI levels either in men or in women. We also found no correlation of functional TAFI levels related to any other hemostatic factors. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.