No association between pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis and the -455G/A beta-fibrinogen gene polymorphism

Hyperfibrinogenaemia has been reported to be associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, whether or not the "fibrinogen-raising"-455G/A polymorphism of the beta-fibrinogen gene is associated with DVT is uncertain and there are no data on whether this polymorphism is associated with pulmonary embolism (PE). We have studied relationships between the -455G/A beta-fibrinogen gene polymorphism and the occurrence of PE and/or DVT (n = 339) (PE only, n = 76; DVT only, n = 216; PE and DVT, n = 47). There was no difference between the -455A allelic frequencies for the control (n = 190) and patient groups - PE, 0.187 and 0.171, respectively [P = 0.6087, chi test; odds ratio (OR), 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.72-1.74]; DVT, 0.187 and 0.171, respectively (P = 0.5408, chi test; OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.78-1.59). This also applied when only Caucasian individuals were considered - PE allelic frequencies, 0.192 and 0.193, respectively (P = 0.9764, chi test; OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.62-1.60); DVT allelic frequencies, 0.192 and 0.186, respectively (P = 0.8404, chi test; OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.71-1.51). While the results should be interpreted with caution as the frequency of the -455A allele is rare, the -455A allele of the beta-fibrinogen gene does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of PE or DVT.