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Can haemostatic factors predict atherothrombosis?
1Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, BHF GCRC, 126 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK. g.d.lowe@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Internal and Emergency Medicine
|February 18, 2011
Summary
Thrombosis, or hemostasis in the wrong place, is linked to atherothrombotic events. While fibrinogen levels indicate risk, their predictive value beyond conventional factors is limited.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Thrombosis is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in atherothrombotic events.
- Hemostatic factors, including fibrinogen, are associated with elevated risks of cardiovascular diseases.
- Conventional risk factors are well-established, but the role of hemostatic markers requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between hemostatic factors and atherothrombotic risk.
- To assess the incremental predictive value of hemostatic markers beyond established risk factors.
- To review the current evidence for routine measurement of coagulation, endothelium, and platelet markers in risk prediction.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on thrombosis and atherothrombotic events.
- Analysis of studies investigating plasma fibrinogen levels and associated risks.
- Examination of ongoing research into activation markers of coagulation, endothelium, and platelets.
Main Results:
- Elevated plasma fibrinogen levels correlate with increased risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and mortality.
- The additional predictive value of fibrinogen and other hemostatic markers, similar to inflammation markers, is currently small when added to conventional risk factors.
- Research is ongoing to determine the predictive utility of specific activation markers.
Conclusions:
- While fibrinogen is associated with increased atherothrombotic risk, its predictive power is limited beyond conventional factors.
- Further evidence is needed to support the routine measurement of coagulation, endothelium, and platelet activation markers for risk prediction.
- Ongoing studies may clarify the role of these markers in identifying individuals at high risk for atherothrombotic events.
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