The state of hemostasis and fibrinolysis in patients with different types of pulmonary hypertension

Hemostasis was studied in 24 patients with primary and 15 patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension due to mitral stenosis. Twelve healthy persons served as controls. Disturbances of hemostasis believed to bear increased risk of thrombosis and embolism were found in more than 50% of patients. Most patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension had elevated fibrinogen levels while primary pulmonary hypertension was characterized by lowered level of natural inhibitors of coagulation -antithrombin III and protein C.