COPD patients are at higher cardiovascular risk. Recent years concept of immuno-thrombosis has been proposed. 6-keto-prostaglandin F-1 alpha (6-keto-PGF-1-a) is an active metabolite of prostacyclin, which reflect its platelet antiaggregating and vasodilator properties. vonWillebrand?s factor (vWF) is a haemostatic factor produced by endothelial cells.

The aim of the study was to investigate plasma levels of 6-keto-PGF-1-a and vWF in patients with COPD.

Methods. The study involved 117 patients with COPD, who meet the criteria GOLD II and had no exacerbations in the preceding 4 weeks before enrollment in the study. The study included control group of 23 healhy persons with normal spirography data. Plasma concentrations of 6-keto-PGF-1-a was measured using commercial ELISA kit (Enzo Life Sciences GmbH, Germany) and quantitative determination of vWF - Technozym vWF: Ag ELISA, «Technoclone» according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Results: Research findings have shown that plasma level of 6-keto-PGF-1-a and vWF level in all examined patients were within normal limits. The closer analyze demonstrated trend toward lower plasma level of 6-keto-PGF-1-a in COPD patients (274.29±5.37 pg/mL) compared to healthy volunteers (327.54±8.26; p>0,05). Opposite findings were shown in detecting vWF. Thus, plasma level of vWF in patients with COPD were 0,92±0,1 IU/ml that was higher compared to control group (0,76 ±0,2 IU/ml, p>0,05). It wasn?t found a direct correlation between them.

Conclusion. The study showed signs of vascular damage in COPD patients with activation of intrinsic pathway on inflammatory background.