Biochemical markers of coagulation activation in mitral stenosis, atrial fibrillation, and cardiomyopathy.

Advances in the understanding of the biochemistry of the mechanism of hemostasis have led to the development of sensitive methods for determining levels of markers which reflect thrombin activity (thrombin-antithrombin III complex, fibrinopeptide A, F1 + 2 fragment), active fibrinolysis (D-dimer, plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex), and platelet activity (platelet factor 4, beta-thromboglobulin) in vivo. Measurement of these markers may be useful in identifying patients with various cardiovascular disorders at high risk of thromboembolism.