Plasma fibrinogen was significantly associated with maximal carotid intima-media thickness and plaque occurrence in high-risk men, independent of smoking.
Cross-Sectional (n=180)
Are haemostatic factors associated with carotid artery wall morphology and cardiovascular disease in men at high and low risk for atherosclerotic disease?
Plasma fibrinogen is independently associated with carotid intima-media thickness and plaque occurrence, suggesting a role in atherosclerosis development.
The aim of this study was to examine whether there was a relationship between haemostatic factors and ultrasound-assessed morphology of the common carotid artery and cardiovascular disease in 57- to 77-year-old men at high risk for atherosclerotic disease (hypertension and at least one of the following risk factors: hypercholesterolaemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus). They were divided into one group with (n = 59) and one group without (n = 70) manifest cardiovascular disease. An age-matched reference group with no cardiovascular risk factors was used as a comparison (n = 51). Significant associations, independent of smoking, were found between plasma fibrinogen and both the maximal intima-media thickness and the occurrence of plaque in the high-risk group. High-risk patients with clinical signs of cardiovascular disease had higher levels of plasma fibrinogen and prothrombin 1 + 2 fragment compared with both high-risk patients without concomitant cardiovascular disease and low-risk subjects. Plasminogen activator inhibitor, von Willebrand factor and thrombin/antithrombin complex were increased in the high-risk group with signs of cardiovascular disease in comparison with the low-risk group. In conclusion the results indicate that plasma fibrinogen may be operative in the development of atherosclerosis. Clinical signs of cardiovascular disease were associated with increased plasma levels of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor, thrombin/antithrombin complex and prothrombin 1 + 2 fragment.
Agewall et al. (1994) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease (n=180). Haemostatic factors (e.g., plasma fibrinogen) vs. Low-risk subjects and high-risk subjects without cardiovascular disease was evaluated on Relationship between haemostatic factors, carotid artery morphology, and cardiovascular disease. Plasma fibrinogen was significantly associated with maximal carotid intima-media thickness and plaque occurrence in high-risk men, independent of smoking.