[Fibrinogen and coronary heart disease]

On average, plasma fibrinogen concentrations are significantly increased in patients with overt ischaemic heart disease as compared with healthy individuals or patients with normal coronary arteries on angiographic examination. Fibrinogen levels appear to be positively related to the extent and severity of coronary artery disease as assessed by angiography. Prospective studies have demonstrated the prognostic significance of plasma fibrinogen levels, measured during stable phases of the disease, with respect to the incidence of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality. In accordance with the results of prospective population studies, fibrinogen may be considered a cardiovascular risk marker in patients with manifest coronary heart disease. This should be accounted for in future intervention trials.