The serial hemostasis-related changes in patients with cerebral infarction: comparison between progressing and non-progressing stroke

Serial determinations of beta-thromboglobulin (BTG), platelet factor 4 (PF4), fibrinopeptide A (FPA), anti-thrombin III (ATIII), protein C (PC), fibrin(ogen) degradation product (FDP), FDP D-dimer, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and euglobulin lysis time (ELT) were performed in 18 patients with non-progressing stroke and 14 patients with progressing stroke in order to predict the development of progressing stroke. Increasing levels of BTG, PF4 and FDP with frequent fluctuation were noted in both kinds of stroke. Fluctuation of FPA levels was also noted but was less pronounced. PC levels were found to be slightly decreased with fluctuation but the mean was still in the lower normal limit. BTG, PF4 and PC all elevated at the time of deterioration of physical condition in patients with progressing stroke, whereas FPA had no definite change at that time. From out study, we conclude that both platelet activation and coagulation process do occur in both kinds of stroke. But the latter plays a minor role in the formation of thrombosis. The hemostasis change, especially concerning the thrombosis formation, probably plays a role in the development of progressing stroke, but we cannot predict their development even by the detections of the newly known molecular substances appearing in various steps of the hemostatic mechanism. Developtment of new tests for understanding the whole dynamic change of the thrombosis process is necessary for accurate prediction of the progressing stroke in the future.