Body composition as determinant of thrombin generation in plasma: the Hoorn study.

H.J.B.H. Beijers*, I. Ferreira, H.M.H. Spronk, B. Bravenboer, J.M. Dekker, G. Nijpels, H. ten Cate, C.D.A. Stehouwer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The association between obesity and cardiovascular disease and venous thromboembolism might, at least partially, be explained by a hypercoagulable state. The extent to which body fat mass and its distribution contribute to a hypercoagulable state is unknown. In this study, we investigated the association between body composition and thrombin generation and evaluated the potential mediating role of low-grade inflammation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 586 individuals from the Hoorn Study (mean age, 69.7+/-6.5 years, 298 women) in whom body composition was assessed by whole body dual-energy absorptiometry. Thrombin generation was measured using the calibrated automated thrombogram. Multiple regression analyses showed a positive association between total body fat and thrombin generation in women but not in men. Detailed analyses of regional body composition showed that central but not peripheral fat mass was associated with greater thrombin generation and that there was a trend toward an inverse association with peripheral lean mass. The reported positive associations were partially attenuated by low-grade inflammation, however. CONCLUSIONS: Body fat mass, in particular a central pattern of fat distribution, is associated with higher levels of thrombin generation in elderly women but not in men. This association may partially be explained by adiposity-related low-grade inflammation, but this hypothesis needs to be further investigated in mechanistic/prospective studies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2639-2647
Number of pages9
JournalArteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
Volume30
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2010

Keywords

  • epidemiology
  • obesity
  • body composition
  • dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
  • endogenous thrombin potential
  • thrombin generation
  • C-REACTIVE PROTEIN
  • FACTOR PATHWAY INHIBITOR
  • TISSUE FACTOR
  • SEX-DIFFERENCES
  • POSTLOAD GLUCOSE
  • FAT MASS
  • COAGULATION
  • INFLAMMATION
  • POPULATION
  • MARKERS

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