PLAT and venous thromboembolism: The PLAT gene, which is involved in plasminogen activation and encodes tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), is linked to thrombosis and increased risk of CVD.64,65 In AAs, polymorphisms in PLAT have been linked to CVD and higher levels of t-PA antigen have been observed in both myocardial infarction and venous thromboembolism.66 In addition, increased plasma fibrinogen level, which is involved in the fibrinolytic pathway and regulated by t-PA, has been linked to increased venous thrombosis risk in AAs.67,68