Clinical science
-
Acute mental stress may contribute to atherosclerosis by affecting inflammation and coagulation; however, the crosstalk between inflammation and coagulation during stress has not been studied. In the present study, we investigated the association of plasma fibrinogen, plasma IL-6 (interleukin-6) and free salivary cortisol with the procoagulant marker D-dimer reflecting fibrin formation both over a 2-h period and in response to acute mental stress. Twenty-one male volunteers (mean age, 47+/-8 years) underwent the Trier Social Stress Test combining a 3-min preparation phase, a 5-min job interview and 5-min mental arithmetic test before an audience. ⋯ Total fibrin formation was independently predicted by fibrinogen and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal activity. Pro-inflammatory and procoagulant changes with stress were associated. Aside from fibrinogen reactivity, IL-6 reactivity was an independent predictor of stress-induced fibrin formation.