© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.
Articles |
Fibrinogen and Silent Atherosclerosis in Subjects With Cardiovascular Risk Factors
From the Centre de Médecine Préventive Cardiovasculaire and INSERM U28, Broussais Hospital, Paris, France.
Correspondence to Jaime Levenson, MD, INSERM U28, Centre de Médecine Préventive Cardiovasculaire, Hôpital Broussais, 96 rue Didot, 75674 Paris Cedex 14, France.
Abstract Fibrinogen may play an active role in the
development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. We assessed the
association between fibrinogen levels and atherosclerotic plaques over
three different arterial sites in an
asymptomatic never-treated male population with
increased cardiovascular risk. We included 652 men aged
40 to 60 years old with at least one of the following
cardiovascular risk factors: cholesterol
>6.2 mmol/L and/or systolic blood pressure 
160 mm Hg and/or
diastolic blood pressure 95 mm Hg, and/or because they
smoked. Carotid and femoral arteries and the abdominal aorta were
assessed by using ultrasonographic methods for the presence of plaque,
and subjects were categorized according to the presence (or absence)
and extent (one versus two or three sites) of plaque. Plasma fibrinogen
was measured according to the thrombin-time method of Clauss. While the
presence of atherosclerosis was significantly related
to age, current smoking, systolic pressure, LDL
cholesterol, and fibrinogen levels, the extent of
atherosclerosis was related to age and
triglyceride and fibrinogen levels. Multiple regression
analysis indicated independent associations between fibrinogen
and the presence and extent of atherosclerosis. Plaque
prevalence was significantly more pronounced with increasing tertile of
fibrinogen levels. The odds ratio of the upper to lower fibrinogen
tertiles for the presence of plaque was 1.6 (95% confidence interval,
1.4 to 1.8) and 1.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 1.7) for its
extent. Adjustment for other risk factors slightly reduced the
association between fibrinogen and atherosclerosis. In
conclusion, fibrinogen levels are related to
atherosclerosis, supporting the hypothesis that
increased fibrinogen may be one of the mechanisms linking
cardiovascular risk factors to formation and
progression of plaques.
Key Words: arterial plaques • hypercholesterolemia • hypertension • smoking • fibrin
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  E. S. Ganotakis, I. F. Gazi, J. A. Papadakis, I. A. Jagroop, D. R. Nair, and D. P. Mikhailidis The Relationship Between Circulating Fibrinogen and Lipoprotein (a) Levels in Patients With Primary Dyslipidemia Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, January 1, 2007; 13(1): 35 - 42. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A N Kiani, E K Fishman, and M Petri Aortic valve calcification in systemic lupus erythematosus Lupus, December 1, 2006; 15(12): 873 - 876. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. M C. S M Leao, M. P. C Duarte, D. M. B Silva, P. R. V Bahia, C. M. Coeli, and M. L. F. de Farias Influence of methyltestosterone postmenopausal therapy on plasma lipids, inflammatory factors, glucose metabolism and visceral fat: a randomized study Eur. J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2006; 154(1): 131 - 139. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Sabeti, M. Exner, W. Mlekusch, J. Amighi, P. Quehenberger, H. Rumpold, G. Maurer, E. Minar, O. Wagner, and M. Schillinger Prognostic Impact of Fibrinogen in Carotid Atherosclerosis: Nonspecific Indicator of Inflammation or Independent Predictor of Disease Progression? Stroke, July 1, 2005; 36(7): 1400 - 1404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Arikan and S. Sen Endothelial Damage and Hemostatic Markers in Patients with Uncomplicated Mild-to-Moderate Hypertension and Relationship with Risk Factors Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, April 1, 2005; 11(2): 147 - 159. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. M. Rothwell, S. C. Howard, D. A. Power, S. A. Gutnikov, A. Algra, J. van Gijn, T. G. Clark, M. F.G. Murphy, C. P. Warlow, and for the Cerebrovascular Cohort Studies Collaborati Fibrinogen Concentration and Risk of Ischemic Stroke and Acute Coronary Events in 5113 Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Ischemic Stroke Stroke, October 1, 2004; 35(10): 2300 - 2305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Kamath and G.Y.H. Lip Fibrinogen: biochemistry, epidemiology and determinants QJM, October 1, 2003; 96(10): 711 - 729. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S.C. Kofoed, H.H. Wittrup, H. Sillesen, and B.G. Nordestgaard Fibrinogen predicts ischaemic stroke and advanced atherosclerosis but not echolucent, rupture-prone carotid plaques: The Copenhagen City Heart Study Eur. Heart J., March 2, 2003; 24(6): 567 - 576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Kareinen, L. Viitanen, P. Halonen, S. Lehto, and M. Laakso Cardiovascular Risk Factors Associated With Insulin Resistance Cluster in Families With Early-Onset Coronary Heart Disease Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, August 1, 2001; 21(8): 1346 - 1352. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Bogaty, P. Poirier, S. Simard, L. Boyer, S. Solymoss, and G. R. Dagenais Biological Profiles in Subjects With Recurrent Acute Coronary Events Compared With Subjects With Long-Standing Stable Angina Circulation, June 26, 2001; 103(25): 3062 - 3068. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Di Napoli, F. Papa, and V. Bocola Prognostic Influence of Increased C-Reactive Protein and Fibrinogen Levels in Ischemic Stroke Stroke, January 1, 2001; 32(1): 133 - 138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. R. Di Tullio, R. L. Sacco, M. T. Savoia, R. R. Sciacca, and S. Homma Gender Differences in the Risk of Ischemic Stroke Associated With Aortic Atheromas Stroke, November 1, 2000; 31(11): 2623 - 2627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Wierzbicki Lipids, cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus Lupus, March 1, 2000; 9(3): 194 - 201. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Massberg, G. Enders, F. C. d. M. Matos, L. I. D. Tomic, R. Leiderer, S. Eisenmenger, K. Messmer, and F. Krombach Fibrinogen Deposition at the Postischemic Vessel Wall Promotes Platelet Adhesion During Ischemia-Reperfusion In Vivo Blood, December 1, 1999; 94(11): 3829 - 3838. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Maresca, A. Di Blasio, R. Marchioli, and G. Di Minno Measuring Plasma Fibrinogen to Predict Stroke and Myocardial Infarction : An Update Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, June 1, 1999; 19(6): 1368 - 1377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Ross Atherosclerosis -- An Inflammatory Disease N. Engl. J. Med., January 14, 1999; 340(2): 115 - 126. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I. Song, W. Yang, S. Kim, J. Lee, T. Kwon, and J. Park Association of plasma fibrinogen concentration with vascular access failure in hemodialysis patients Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., January 1, 1999; 14(1): 137 - 141. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Xie, G.F. Clunn, J.S. Lymn, and A.D. Hughes Role of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and tyrosine phosphorylation in adhesion of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells to fibrinogen Cardiovasc Res, August 1, 1998; 39(2): 475 - 484. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. W. Courtman, S. M. Schwartz, and C. E. Hart Sequential Injury of the Rabbit Abdominal Aorta Induces Intramural Coagulation and Luminal Narrowing Independent of Intimal Mass : Extrinsic Pathway Inhibition Eliminates Luminal Narrowing Circ. Res., May 19, 1998; 82(9): 996 - 1006. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Toss, B. Lindahl, A. Siegbahn, L. Wallentin, and f. t. F. S. Group Prognostic Influence of Increased Fibrinogen and C-Reactive Protein Levels in Unstable Coronary Artery Disease Circulation, December 16, 1997; 96(12): 4204 - 4210. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Simon, J. L. Megnien, and J. Levenson Coronary Risk Estimation and Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia Circulation, October 7, 1997; 96(7): 2449 - 2452. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. Carter, N. Ossei-Gerning, I. J. Wilson, and P. J. Grant Association of the Platelet PlA Polymorphism of Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa and the Fibrinogen Bß 448 Polymorphism With Myocardial Infarction and Extent of Coronary Artery Disease Circulation, September 2, 1997; 96(5): 1424 - 1431. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Kaplan, S. Kaplan, K. F. Marcoe, L. R. Sauvage, and W. P. Hammond Identification of Potential Predisposition to Clinical Atherosclerosis: A Clinical Concept Based on Integration of Significant Blood Parameters with Platelet Aggregation Scores Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, July 1, 1997; 3(3): 174 - 182. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Peter, P. Nawroth, C. Conradt, T. Nordt, T. Weiss, M. Boehme, A. Wunsch, J. Allenberg, W. Kubler, and C. Bode Circulating Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 Correlates With the Extent of Human Atherosclerosis in Contrast to Circulating Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, E-Selectin, P-Selectin, and Thrombomodulin Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, March 1, 1997; 17(3): 505 - 512. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
X.L. Wang, J. Wang, R.M. McCredie, and D.E.L. Wilcken Polymorphisms of Factor V, Factor VII, and Fibrinogen Genes: Relevance to Severity of Coronary Artery Disease Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, February 1, 1997; 17(2): 246 - 251. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Simon, J.-L. Paul, T. Soni, A. Simon, and N. Moatti Plasma and erythrocyte vitamin E content in asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic subjects Clin. Chem., February 1, 1997; 43(2): 285 - 289. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Levenson, P. Giral, J. L. Megnien, J. Gariepy, M.-C. Plainfosse, and A. Simon Fibrinogen and Its Relations to Subclinical Extracoronary and Coronary Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolemic Men Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, January 1, 1997; 17(1): 45 - 50. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W.-H. Pan, C.-H. Bai, J.-R. Chen, and H.-C. Chiu Associations Between Carotid Atherosclerosis and High Factor VIII Activity, Dyslipidemia, and Hypertension Stroke, January 1, 1997; 28(1): 88 - 94. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|