[Changes in the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, substrates and inhibitors of thromboxane and prostacyclin synthesis, in the blood of patients with cardiovascular diseases].

The authors examined the ratios of blood free polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as 20:3n6, 20:4n6, 20:5n3, and 22:6n3, which are substrates and inhibitors of synthesis of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclins that regulate both normal blood fluidity, and platelet adhesion and primary thrombogenesis. The object of the study was plasma from healthy subjects and 4 groups of patients with cardiovascular diseases: 1) large myocardial infarction; 2) resting and exercise-induced angina pectoris; 3) large myocardial infarction; and 4) recurrent myocardial infarction. The levels of plasma free PUFA were measured by gas chromatography. Assessment of the PUFA ratios indicated that the risk for thrombogenesis increased in large and recurrent myocardial infarctions as compared to small myocardial infarction and angina pectoris both by reducing the relative levels of 20:3n6 and, in particular, 20:5n3, substrates of synthesis of only thrombolytics and vasodilators and by more greatly inhibiting the synthesis of prostacyclins than thromboxane with elevated 22:6n3 levels.