Relationship between TPA and coagulation factors in stroke patients

TPA is a drug administered to victims of thrombotic and embolitic strokes.  TPA (Tissue plasminogen activator) is an anti-coagulant protein with the main function being the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin, which than works to disassemble a blood clot.  Many facets of the drug are unkknown and in this study, we attempt to observe any effects of TPA on coagulation factor levels.  Coagulation factors are the units responsible for creating a blood clot.  We are looking for relationships between TPA administration and coagulation factor levels.  Our study population was derived from patients admitted to the emergecy center at the University of Utah who were suspected of having a stroke.  Control patients (n=47) were those found to lack any stroke symptoms, and case patients (n=63) were those suffering from ischemic stroke. We obtained blood samples from patients and used these  samples to examine relationships between factor levels and TPA administration. We found potentially significant relationships between TPA and factor VIII, Factor II, and von willebrand factor.  Future studies should focus on obtaining a higher sample size and examining the mechanisms of TPA and coagulation factor relationships.