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Prothrombin concentrations in middle-aged men and women – stability over time and correlations with cardiovascular risk factors

Zöller, Bengt LU orcid ; Haastrup, Mark Jonas ; Foged, Niels Tækker and Engström, Gunnar LU (2026) In Thrombosis Update 22.
Abstract

Background Prothrombin is a vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein synthesized in the liver and circulating in blood as an inactive zymogen. The corresponding activated thrombin enzyme is a central player in hemostasis and thrombosis. Still, little is known about the individual variation over time of the prothrombin concentration in plasma in the general population. Objectives This study aimed to establish the prothrombin plasma level and its correlation with cardiovascular risk factors in the general population. Methods A novel aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor, which in a single, direct incubation step and within 5 min quantifies the prothrombin concentration in molar amounts, was used for analysis of plasma samples from 141... (More)

Background Prothrombin is a vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein synthesized in the liver and circulating in blood as an inactive zymogen. The corresponding activated thrombin enzyme is a central player in hemostasis and thrombosis. Still, little is known about the individual variation over time of the prothrombin concentration in plasma in the general population. Objectives This study aimed to establish the prothrombin plasma level and its correlation with cardiovascular risk factors in the general population. Methods A novel aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor, which in a single, direct incubation step and within 5 min quantifies the prothrombin concentration in molar amounts, was used for analysis of plasma samples from 141 non-anticoagulated individuals in the Swedish cardiopulmonary bioimage study (SCAPIS). Plasma samples from baseline and from re-examination after one year of follow-up were tested. Results The study population consisted of 141 individuals with a mean age of 57.3 (standard deviation 3.79) years, and 66 (47 %) were females. The mean (±standard deviation) prothrombin concentrations in plasma were 1565 nM (±249) and 1526 nM (±319) at baseline and one-year follow-up, respectively. There was a strong correlation between the individual prothrombin concentration at baseline and one year later, r = 0.658, p < 0.001. Baseline prothrombin plasma levels correlated positively and weakly with weight (r = 0.183, p = 0.030), waist (r = 0.213, p = 0.011), waist-hip-ratio (r = 0.191, p = 0.023), body mass index (r = 0.244, p = 0.004), cholesterol (r = 0.281, p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.220, p = 0.009), triglycerides (r = 0.257, p = 0.002), and thrombocytes (r = 0.170, p = 0,046). Conclusions Plasma levels of prothrombin are stable over time in most individuals and are positively and weakly correlated with cardiovascular risk factors.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Analysis, Blood coagulation, Blood coagulation factors, Enzyme precursors, Lipids, Obesity, Prothrombin
in
Thrombosis Update
volume
22
article number
100233
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105028015270
DOI
10.1016/j.tru.2026.100233
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
436b5a50-53e1-4de5-9043-569115e2b55c
date added to LUP
2026-02-18 13:00:42
date last changed
2026-02-18 13:01:46
@article{436b5a50-53e1-4de5-9043-569115e2b55c,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background Prothrombin is a vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein synthesized in the liver and circulating in blood as an inactive zymogen. The corresponding activated thrombin enzyme is a central player in hemostasis and thrombosis. Still, little is known about the individual variation over time of the prothrombin concentration in plasma in the general population. Objectives This study aimed to establish the prothrombin plasma level and its correlation with cardiovascular risk factors in the general population. Methods A novel aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor, which in a single, direct incubation step and within 5 min quantifies the prothrombin concentration in molar amounts, was used for analysis of plasma samples from 141 non-anticoagulated individuals in the Swedish cardiopulmonary bioimage study (SCAPIS). Plasma samples from baseline and from re-examination after one year of follow-up were tested. Results The study population consisted of 141 individuals with a mean age of 57.3 (standard deviation 3.79) years, and 66 (47 %) were females. The mean (±standard deviation) prothrombin concentrations in plasma were 1565 nM (±249) and 1526 nM (±319) at baseline and one-year follow-up, respectively. There was a strong correlation between the individual prothrombin concentration at baseline and one year later, r = 0.658, p &lt; 0.001. Baseline prothrombin plasma levels correlated positively and weakly with weight (r = 0.183, p = 0.030), waist (r = 0.213, p = 0.011), waist-hip-ratio (r = 0.191, p = 0.023), body mass index (r = 0.244, p = 0.004), cholesterol (r = 0.281, p &lt; 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.220, p = 0.009), triglycerides (r = 0.257, p = 0.002), and thrombocytes (r = 0.170, p = 0,046). Conclusions Plasma levels of prothrombin are stable over time in most individuals and are positively and weakly correlated with cardiovascular risk factors.</p>}},
  author       = {{Zöller, Bengt and Haastrup, Mark Jonas and Foged, Niels Tækker and Engström, Gunnar}},
  keywords     = {{Analysis; Blood coagulation; Blood coagulation factors; Enzyme precursors; Lipids; Obesity; Prothrombin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Thrombosis Update}},
  title        = {{Prothrombin concentrations in middle-aged men and women – stability over time and correlations with cardiovascular risk factors}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tru.2026.100233}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.tru.2026.100233}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}