Acute effect of smoking on fibrinolysis: increase in the activity level of circulating extrinsic (tissue‐type) plasminogen activator*

The acute effect of cigarette smoking on the fibrinolytic enzyme system in blood was studied. It was found imperative to have an initial 30 min rest period, after venipuncture, to obtain a stable baseline in the fibrinolytic studies. The average heart rate, in inhaling smokers, increased from 64 to a peak of 79 beats min-1, 5-10 min after commencement of smoking. A peak in fibrinolytic activity was found to occur later, at 22.5 min. Analysis of the increase in fibrinolytic activity revealed no demonstrable activation of intrinsic systems via factor XII, nor changes in plasminogen, prekallikrein and C1-inactivator. No plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complexes were detectable. The increase (P less than 0.01) was found to be due to extrinsic (tissue-type) plasminogen activator, revealed as C1-inactivator-resistant plasminogen activator activity, and further identified by quenching with anti-tissue plasminogen activator IgG. Thus, smoking appears to elicit a significant increase in the level of activity of circulating extrinsic plasminogen activator.