Background: Exercise is frequently recommended for the treatment of patients with arterial hypertension. Previous studies have shown an enhanced coagulation state after exercise. Our study investigates the alterations observed after a single session of submaximal aerobic exercise concerning coagulation, fibrinolysis, platelet activation as well as endothelial function in patients with recently diagnosed essential hypertension.
Methods: Twenty non-diabetic patients with recently diagnosed essential hypertension participated in a 45 min submaximal exercise test on a bicycle ergometer. Blood samples were drawn before and after exercise in order to determine parameters of coagulation activation (Prothrombin time [PT], activated Partial Thromboplastin time [aPTT], fibrinogen, D-Dimers, prothrombin fragments 1 + 2 [PF1+2], thrombin-antithrombin III complex [TAT] and factors VII, VIII and XII), platelet activation (Platelet count, Platelet factor 4 [PF4] and beta-thromboglobulin [beta-TG]), fibrinolysis activation (Plasmin-a(2) antiplasmin complex, PAP) and endothelial function (soluble Thrombomodulin [sTM] and von Willebrand factor [vWf]). Soluble P-selectin served as a marker for endothelial and platelet activation.
Results: All patients completed the exercise test. aPTT (P < 0.001) and factor VII (P = 0.01) significantly decreased while PT (P = 0.04), fibrinogen (P = 0.008), factor VIII (P < 0.001), platelet count (P = 0.002) and beta-TG levels (P = 0.01) significantly increased as a result of exercise. Compared to baseline there was an 11% increase in TAT (P = 0.04) and a 28% increase in PAP (P < 0.001) at peak exercise. One hour post exercise, there was a 43% increase in PAP whereas TAT levels became similar to those at baseline. Additionally vWf (P = 0.01) and sP-selectin (P = 0.02) levels significantly increased throughout the exercise protocol.
Conclusions: Patients with recently diagnosed and never treated mild to moderate essential hypertension undergoing submaximal aerobic exercise present evidence of enhanced fibrinolysis compared with a mild increase of coagulation indices. However, whether there is a favourable effect of exercise on fibrinolysis over coagulation and/or endothelial involvement during exercise needs to be further investigated.