Coagulation factors, anticoagulant proteins, and plasminogen in Mexican older adults.

INTRODUCTION: Hemostasis protects upon the occurrence of vascular endothelial damage, with involving of different factors. The interaction of these factors in older adults is poorly known, and has been associated with different disorders. Therefore, we determined the activity of coagulation factors (CF), anticoagulant proteins (AP), and plasminogen (Plg), as well as the frequency of deficiencies of these proteins in a population of healthy Mexican older adults (OA).

METHODS: CF (I, II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI y XII), AP [protein C (PC), protein S (PS), and antithrombin (AT)], and Plg were determined from 244 plasma samples of OA using commercial kits in a coagulometer ACL Elite Pro.

RESULTS: A total of 139 women and 105 men were under study. They were divided into age range groups (50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ˃80 years). Activity of CF, AP, and Plg was determined. Frequencies of CF, AP, and Plg activity values were obtained for each age group according to gender. Differences were found between both frequencies for each protein.

CONCLUSION: Significant differences were found, so it is recommended to establish reference values (RV) for the activity of fibrinogen and FX by decade and gender, FVII and FXII by gender, FII, FV, FVIII, PC, PS, and Plg by decade, whereas for FIX, FXI, and AT, they are not modified by age or gender, so the RV described for adult Mexican population can be used. It is important to integrate these results into established diagnostic algorithms, which can be taken into account to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment for patients with suspected hemorrhagic or thrombotic processes, as well as suggest those habits that improve their quality of life, to maintain optimal health and prevent thrombotic and hemorrhagic events.