ABSTRACT
Background
Increased plasma levels of fibrinogen are been associated with an increased risk of
cardiovascular accident. We aimed at verifying whether the changes of fibrinogen levels
are associated with red blood cell (and/or hemoglobin) concentration.
Methods
A group of 381 carefully selected healthy volunteers (219 male and 162 female), aged from 18 to 101 years, were enrolled in this study. Fasting
blood samples were taken and all measurements (fibrinogen plasma level, whole blood
viscosity, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value, red blood cell and white blood
cell count, platelet count, glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides plasma concentration,
and C-reactive protein level) were obtained with standardized methodology using appropriate
equipment, procedures, and controls.
Results and Conclusions
In the male but not in the female group, plasma fibrinogen concentration inversely
correlated with hemoglobin (P < 0.0001) and hematocrit value (P < 0.01). In a post hoc analysis, plasma fibrinogen level inversely correlated with
hemoglobin in the subgroup of the 93 premenopausal women and directly correlated with
age and inversely correlated with platelet count in the subgroup of the 69 postmenopausal
women. Results of multiple regression analysis revealed that in all the subjects,
except in the postmenopausal women, hemoglobin level is an independent predictor of
fibrinogen plasma level. Considering the physiopathologic role of increased plasma
fibrinogen concentration and the scarcity of pharmacologic approaches to decrease
its level, these findings could be important in designing a preventive therapy of
cardiovascular disease.
KEY INDEXING TERMS
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 23,
2006
Received:
June 6,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
