FIBRINOLYTIC RESPONSE TO MODERATE EXERCISE IN 50 HEALTHY MIDDLE-AGED SUBJECTS

The resting levels of circulating plasminogen activator, as measured by the euglobulin Iysis time, and changes following a standard exercise procedure were studied in 25 male and 25 female healthy middle-aged subjects. There was a significantly higher level in the female group. Comparison with previous results obtained from 50 young healthy subjects aged 18–30 years showed no statistically significant difference between the two age groups. There was evidence to indicate that cigarette smoking may have a deleterious effect on the resting level of circulating plasminogen activator. The phenomenon of the poor fibrinolytic responder to exercise, previously described in the young subjects, was also shown in the middle-aged population. The middle-aged females had a significantly higher response than the middle-aged males, but there was no significant difference between the total young and middle-aged populations. Cigarette smoking had no influence on the fibrinolytic response to exercise. A 12-month follow-up study on 18 middle-aged subjects confirmed the phenomenon of a poor fibrinolytic response to exercise. © 1968, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.