Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Age-related changes in the hemostatic system

  • Editorial
  • Published:
International Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Research

Summary

The increased incidence of arterial thromboembolism in the elderly has prompted investigation of age-related changes in the hemostatic system. Aging is associated with increased plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII and factor VIII, which have been shown to be risk factors for thrombotic disease in five large epidemiological studies. An increased responsiveness to different aggregating stimuli, elevated levels of β-thromboglobulin and an increased production of thromboxane A2 were reported in the platelets of the elderly. These alterations are associated with modifications of platelet membrane lipid composition (namely an increase in the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and a decrease in linoleic acid) with possible related changes in membrane fluidity. Moreover, a decrease in the number of platelet prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 receptors was observed with aging. Fibrinolytic activity is impaired in the elderly, probably due to an increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor 1. Interestingly, hypercoagulability has been demonstrated by an increase in the activation markers of the coagulation cascade (mainly fibrinopeptide A and prothrombin activation fragment F 1+2). Finally, clinical and experimental evidence suggests that endothelium could play a central role in hemostatic alterations which determine a thrombophilic state in the elderly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Aillaud MF, Pignol F, Alessi MC, Harle JR, Escande M, Mongin M, Juhan-Vague I, Increase in plasma concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, factor VIII: C and in erythrocyte sedimentation rate with age. Thromb Haemost 55:330, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Balleisen L, Bailey J, Epping PH, Schulte H, Loo J van de, Epidemiological study on factor VII, factor VIII and fibrinogen in an industrial population. I. Baseline data on the relation to age, gender, body-weight, smoking, alcohol, pill-using, and menopause. Thromb Haemost 54:475, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bauer KA, Weiss LM, Sparrow D, Vokonas PS, Rosenberg RD, Aging-associated changes in indices of thrombin generation and protein C activation in humans. J Clin Invest 80:1527, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bauer KA, Kass BL, Cate HC, Hawiger JJ, Rosenberg RD, Factor IX is activated in vivo by the tissue factor mechanism. Blood 76:731, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ginsberg BH, Jabour J, Spector AA, Effect of alterations in membrane lipid unsaturation on the properties of the insulin receptor of Ehrlich ascites cells. Biochim Biophys Acta 690:157, 1982

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hatake H, Kakishita E, Wakabayashi I, Sakiyama N, Hishida S, Effect of aging on endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation of isolated human basilar artery to thrombin and bradykinin. Stroke 21:1039, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kannel WB, Wolf PA, Castelli WP, D’Agostino RB, Fibrinogen and risk of cardiovascular disease. The Framingham Study. JAMA 258:1183, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ludlam CA, Evidence for the platelet specificity of B-thromboglobulin and studies on its plasma concentration in healthy individuals. Br J Haematol 41:271, 1979

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Mannucci PM, Vigano’ S, Deficiencies of protein C, an inhibitor of blood coagulation. Lancet II:463, 1982

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. McMurchie EJ, Raison JK, Membrane lipid fluidity and its effect on the activation energy of membrane-associated enzymes. Biochim Biophys Acta 554:364, 1979

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Meade TW, North WRS, Chakrabarti R, Haines AP, Stirling Y, Population-based distributions of hemostatic variables. Br Med Bull 33:283, 1977

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Meade TW, Chakrabarti R, Haines AP, North WRS, Stirling Y, Characteristic affecting fibrinolytic activity and plasma fibrinogen concentration. BMJ 1:153, 1979

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Meade TW, Chakrabarti R, Haines AP, North Y, Thompson SG, Brozovic M, Haemostatic function and cardiovascular death: early results of a prospective study. Lancet I:1050, 1980

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Meade TW, Vickers MV, Thompson SG, Stirling Y, Haines AP, Miller AJ, Epidemiological characteristics of platelet aggregability. BMJ 290:428, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mehta J, Mehta P, Lawson D, Saldeen T, Plasma tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor levels in coronary artery disease: correlation with age and serum triglyceride concentrations. J Am Coll Cardiol 9:263, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Modesti PA, Fortini A, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Age-related changes of platelet prostacyclin receptors in humans. Eur J Clin Invest 15:204, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Pace-Asciak C, Wolfe LS, Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. Biochim Biophys Acta 152:784, 1968

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Prisco D, Rogasi PG, Matucci M, Paniccia R, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Neri Serneri GG, Age related changes in platelet lipid composition. Thromb Res 44:427, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Reilly JAG, FitzGerald GA, Eicosanoid biosynthesis and platelet function with advancing age. Thromb Res 41:545, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Renaud S, Kuba K, Goulet C, Lemire Y, Allard C, Relationship between fatty acid composition of platelets and platelet aggregation in rat and in man. Circ Res 26:553, 1970

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Stegnar M, Keber D, Pentek M, Vene N, Kluft C, Age and sex differences in resting and postocclusion values of tissue plasminogen activator in a healthy population. Fibrinolysis 2 [Suppl 2]: 121, 1988

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Stone MC, Thorpe JM, Plasma fibrinoge—a major coronary risk factor. J R Coll Gen Pract 35:565, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Stratton JR, Chandler WL, Schwartz RS, et al., Effects of physical conditioning on fibrinolytic variables and fibrinogen in young and old healthy adults. Circulation 83:1692, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Stuart MJ, Gerrard JM, White JG, Effect of cholesterol on production of thromboxane B2 by platelets in vitro. N Engl J Med 302:6, 1980

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sundell IB, Nilsson TK, Ranby M, Hallmans G, Hellsten G, Fibrinolytic variables are related to age, sex, blood pressure, and body build measurements: a cross-sectional study in Norsjo, Sweden. J Clin Epidemiol 42:719, 1989

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Warr TA, Warn-Cramer BJ, Mohan Rao LV, Rapaport SI, Human plasma extrinsic pathway inhibitor activity. I. Standardization of assay and evaluation of physiologic variables. Blood 74:201, 1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wilhelmsen L, Svardsudd K, Korsan-Bengsten K, Larsson B, Welin L, Tibblin G, Fibrinogen as a risk factor for stroke and myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 311:501, 1984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica Medica I, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 34, I-50134, Florence, Italy

    Rosanna Abbate, Domenico Prisco, Carlo Rostagno, Maria Boddi & Gian Franco Gensini

Authors
  1. Rosanna Abbate
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Domenico Prisco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carlo Rostagno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maria Boddi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gian Franco Gensini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abbate, R., Prisco, D., Rostagno, C. et al. Age-related changes in the hemostatic system. Int J Clin Lab Res 23, 1–3 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02592271

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02592271

Key words

Search

Navigation