Wojciech Balak

Short-term alcohol consumption may have detrimental effect on fibrinolysis and endothelial function: preliminary report of prospective randomised study

BACKGROUND AND AIM This study was designed to clarify the impact of the short-term consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages on haemostatic factors, C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and endothelin-1 (E-1) plasma levels. METHODS The study group consisted of 57 healthy male volunteers, aged 20-29 years. Subjects were randomised to consume 300 mL of red wine, white wine, 12% ethanol, black currant juice or water for five days. Blood samples were collected for CRP, tissue type plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA:Ag), plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen (PAI-1:Ag) and E-1 at baseline, on day 2, and on day 6. RESULTS A significant increase in PAI-1:Ag concentration was observed in the red wine drinking group (day 1: 44.98; day 2:56.86; day 6: 47.44 ng/mL; p = 0.05). A similar increase of E-1 level was found in the 12% ethanol group (day 1: 0.53; day 2:1.65; day 6: 1.11 fmol/mL; p = 0.01). Dividing the whole study group according to ethanol content of consumed beverages revealed significant changes in tPA:Ag, PAI-1:Ag and E-1 levels. In the alcohol drinking group, significant increases of PAI-1:Ag (day 1: 44.75; day 2: 54.07; day 6: 44.80 ng/mL; p < 0.05); tPA:Ag level (day 1: 3.65; day 2: 4.17; day 6: 5.03 ng/mL;p < 0.02) and E-1 (day 1: 0.42; day 2: 1.01; day 6: 0.97 fmol/mL; p < 0.002) were observed. CONCLUSIONS Short-term alcohol consumption increases tPA:Ag, PAI:Ag and E-1 plasma levels. This effect may have an unfavourable impact on the fibrinolytic system and endothelial function.

Successful use of Impella CP® in cardiogenic shock after cardiac arrest: a first in Poland

1Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Medical University of Silesia, Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland 2Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Medical University of Silesia, Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland 3Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Silesia, Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland 42nd Chair and Clinic of Cardiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz, Poland