The direction of effect of all 24 risk factors (including various apolipoproteins, hemoglobin A1<sub>c</sub>, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and tissue plasminogen activator antigen) was concordant for coronary heart disease (CHD, defined as myocardial infarction and CHD death) and ischemic stroke; however, associations were generally stronger with CHD.
Levels of fibrinogen, factor VII (FVII), factor XIII (FXIII), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, and tissue plasminogen activator have been associated with coronary artery disease as have genetic polymorphisms.
Although no definite evidence is available showing that tissue plasminogen activator antigen is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, the present study suggests a positive ecologic association between this hemostatic factor and coronary heart disease mortality.