Related Experiment Videos
Plasma fibrinogen and physiological aging
P F Laharrague1, J P Cambus, G Fillola
1Service d'Hématologie, CHU Toulouse-Rangueil, France.
Insights
Fibrinogen concentration, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, increases with age and is higher in females. This study determined physiological fibrinogen values in healthy adults, finding elevated levels in older individuals.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Increased fibrinogen concentration is linked to arteriosclerotic vascular disease risk.
- Fibrinogen levels are known to increase with aging.
- Establishing physiological ranges in healthy individuals is crucial for understanding its role in cardiovascular diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine physiological fibrinogen concentrations in healthy adults across a wide age range.
- To investigate the influence of aging and sex on fibrinogen levels.
- To establish reference values using multiple measurement methods.
Main Methods:
- Fibrinogen concentration measured in 209 healthy subjects (19-96 years old).
- Older participants (over 60) selected using the Senieur protocol criteria.
- Multiple methods used: heating precipitation and thrombin clotting time (electromagnetic water-bath and semiautomatic coagulometer).
Main Results:
- Fibrinogen concentrations ranged from 1.55 to 3.70 g/L.
- Plasma fibrinogen concentration showed a significant increase with aging.
- Females consistently exhibited higher fibrinogen concentrations than males, independent of age.
- Subjects over 60 years had significantly higher fibrinogen values compared to younger groups.
Conclusions:
- Aging is associated with increased plasma fibrinogen levels in healthy individuals.
- Sex influences fibrinogen concentration, with females having higher levels.
- The findings provide essential reference ranges for fibrinogen in aging populations, aiding cardiovascular disease risk assessment.
Abstract:
Results of prospective studies indicate that increased fibrinogen concentration is significantly associated with the risk of arteriosclerotic vessel disease. As the fibrinogen concentration is considered to rise with aging, determination of its physiological values with various methods in strictly healthy adult and aged individuals is a prerequisite to evaluating the relative contribution of fibrinogen to cardiovascular diseases. Fibrinogen concentration was determined in 209 healthy subjects, aged 19 to 96 years. Persons over the age of 60 were recruited according to the stringent criteria of the Senieur protocol established for human immunogerontological studies. Fibrinogen concentrations, obtained by heating precipitation and by thrombin clotting time with both electromagnetic water-bath and semiautomatic coagulometer, ranged from 1.55 to 3.70 g/L. A rise in plasma concentration was observed with aging. Independently of age, females exhibited higher concentrations than males. Significantly higher values were observed in subjects over 60 years of age, in both sexes, in comparison with the younger groups.