The Effect of Acute Exercise on Coagulation Factors and the Mechanical Properties of Fibrin Fibers

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of acute exercise on coagulation factors and fibrin fiber properties in both younger, healthy subjects and older, subjects with cardiovascular disease (CVD). In addition, it was of interest to examine relationships between coagulation factors and fibrin fiber properties during acute exercise. METHODS: 5 male subjects were recruited to the younger, healthy (YH) group and 5 male subjects were recruited to the older group with CVD (OD). Each participant performed a single session of an acute exercise protocol, having blood drawn preexercise and post-exercise. LabCorp performed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) profiling on all blood samples, and fibrin fiber measurements were performed in the Wake Forest Olin Physics Laboratory using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Repeated measures ANOVA and Pearson’s correlations were used to analyze within and between group differences, and coagulation factor-fibrin fiber relationships, respectively. Effect sizes (ɲ2) were used to combat the small sample size and avoid type II errors. RESULTS: 2-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed only one significant interaction: VIII (p= .001, ɲ2= .778). Paired sample t-tests showed the YH group had a significant increase in VIII from pre-exercise to post-exercise (p= .002) but the OD did not. Between group differences (YH vs. OD) were seen during exercise when measuring alpha-2- antiplasmin (p= .018, ɲ2= .552), antithrombin (p= .026, ɲ2= .481), and fibrin fiber extensibility (p= .003, ɲ2= .691). A significant increase in platelet levels was seen within groups from pre- to post-exercise (p= .048, ɲ2= .507). Pearson’s correlations revealed significant inverse correlations between VIII and fibrin fiber extensibility post-exercise x (r= -.804), and between platelets and fibrin fiber extensibility post-exercise (r= -.711). Significant inverse relationships were also seen between pre-exercise alpha-2-antiplamin and post-exercise fibrin extensibility (r=-.788), and between pre-exercise antithrombin and post-exercise fibrin extensibility (r=-.646). CONCLUSION: Coagulation factors including VIII, alpha-2-antiplasmin, and antithrombin all appear to be affected by acute exercise. Furthermore, acute exercise appears to cause an increase in fibrin fiber extensibility in the OD group but not in the YH group. The four significant inverse correlations provide a basis for lowering fibrin fiber extensibility in response to exercise, by altering levels of pre-exercise VIII and platelets, and post-exercise alpha-2-antiplasmin and antithrombin.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Holland, Georgia Carroll

• acute exercise

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/59316

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/59316