Enhanced fibrinolysis in Nigerians—probable contributory factor to low prevalence of Atherosclerosis in the Nigerian

Abstract

Results of more detailed study of the fibrinolytic enzyme system in Nigerians is reported. A relatively short euglobulin lysis time (ELT. range 75 87-196 08 units) in the males was observed, while a longer time (49 50-98 04 units) was observed in females aged 19-35 years. The mean concentrations of fibrinogen (0 41 ±14 g/100 ml) and plasminogen (2-45 ± 1 03 Casein units) which arc reported, the latter for the first time in this population arc similar to values in other populations. Although plasminogen/plasmin inhibitors were not separately determined in this study, results of the ELT suggest that this was probably due to increased activator activity, and supports a previous suggestion that this increased activator activity may be a mechanism of the enhanced ELT in the males examined