Copyright © 1995 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1995 The European Society of Cardiology
Fibrinogen in the offspring of men with premature coronary artery disease
Department of Cardiology, Evangelismos Hospital Greece
*Biochemistry Laboratory, Evangelismos Hospital Greece
Blood Transfusion Service, Evangelismos Hospital Greece
revised 13 March 1995; accepted 4 April 1995.
Correspondence. Loukianos Rallidis, MD, Clinical Cardiology, Department of Echocardiography, RPMS, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Rd, London W12 OHS, U.K.
Abstract
We examined whether the levels of fibrinogen are elevated in the offspring of middle-aged coronary patients. One hundred and seventy-six young subjects were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 100 children and youngsters (mean age 17±6 years) whose fathers had sustained a myocardial infarction under the age 55 years without associated history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Seventy-six healthy young subjects (mean age 18±5 years) matched for gender, dietary and smoking habits without familial history of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus or hypertension served as the control group (group B). Fibrinogen, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-1, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a) were measured.
Sons and daughters with a history of premature paternal myocardial infarction had higher levels of fibrinogen compared with control subjects (304.1±60 vs 274±53 mg. dl–1, P<0.001). This difference was maintained when the above groups were divided into single sex groups. Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a) were also significantly higher in group A. Children of affected individuals who had a good lipid profile also had significantly higher fibrinogen levels compared to control group.
The results support the hypothesis that the higher plasma levels offibrinogen in the offspring of middle-aged coronary men could partially explain their predisposition for coronary artery disease. Since the levels offibrinogen have a major genetic component, they could be a useful marker in ident children at high risk for coronary artery disease, especially among those with no lipid abnormalities.
Key Words: Family history • fibrinogen • offspring • premature coronary artery disease
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J.D. Mills, M.W. Mansfield, and P.J. Grant Elevated fibrinogen in the healthy male relatives of patients with severe, premature coronary artery disease Eur. Heart J., August 2, 2002; 23(16): 1276 - 1281. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. D. Mills, M. W. Mansfield, and P. J. Grant Tissue Plasminogen Activator, Fibrin D-Dimer, and Insulin Resistance in the Relatives of Patients With Premature Coronary Artery Disease Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., April 1, 2002; 22(4): 704 - 709. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. R. Isasi, T. J. Starc, R. P. Tracy, R. Deckelbaum, L. Berglund, and S. Shea Inverse Association of Physical Fitness with Plasma Fibrinogen Level in Children The Columbia University BioMarkers Study Am. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2000; 152(3): 212 - 218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Mills, M. W. Mansfield, and P. J. Grant Tissue Plasminogen Activator, Fibrin D-Dimer, and Insulin Resistance in the Relatives of Patients With Premature Coronary Artery Disease Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., April 1, 2002; 22(4): 704 - 709. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|