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[Plasma fibrinogen as a cardiovascular risk factor]
1Department of Geriatrics, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
Plasma fibrinogen is a significant risk factor for arteriosclerotic diseases like heart disease and stroke. Further research is needed to understand its role in cardiovascular disorders, especially in the Japanese population.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Plasma fibrinogen is an established independent risk factor for arteriosclerotic diseases, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
- Existing studies show correlations between fibrinogen levels and factors such as age, gender, race, and smoking habits.
- Fibrinogen and its byproducts directly influence vascular wall biology, impacting smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation, key processes in atherosclerosis and thrombus organization.
Purpose:
- To explore the complex relationship between hyperfibrinogenemia, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis.
- To investigate the predictive value of plasma fibrinogen levels for cardiovascular disorders.
- To address the lack of prospective studies on fibrinogen and cardiovascular outcomes in the Japanese population.
Summary:
- Plasma fibrinogen significantly impacts blood coagulation, rheology, and platelet aggregation.
- Vascular smooth muscle cells interact with fibrinogen/fibrin, undergoing chemotaxis and haptotaxis, which are crucial for atherosclerotic plaque development and thrombus organization.
- Prospective epidemiological studies highlight fibrinogen as a potent risk factor for major vascular diseases.
Impact:
- Understanding the role of plasma fibrinogen in cardiovascular disorders may offer new insights into their pathophysiological mechanisms.
- This research could lead to improved risk stratification and preventative strategies for arteriosclerotic diseases.
- Findings may have implications for public health initiatives targeting cardiovascular disease prevention in diverse populations.
Abstract:
Recent prospective epidemiological studies have shown that plasma fibrinogen is a powerful, independent risk factor of arteriosclerotic diseases such as ischemic heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Cross-sectional studies have shown correlation of fibrinogen with various factors, including age, gender, race and smoking. Plasma fibrinogen strongly affects blood coagulation, blood rheology and platelet aggregation. In addition, fibrinogen, fibrin and their degradation products have direct effects on the vascular wall. The migration of vascular smooth muscle cells from the media into the intima and their proliferation play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and in the organization of thrombi. Smooth muscle cells adhere to substrate-bound fibrinogen/fibrin. The cells migrate to a gradient of soluble fibrinogen (chemotaxis). The cells also migrate in a dose-dependent manner to a gradient of substrate-bound fibrinogen and fibrin (haptotaxis). The relation among hyperfibrinogenemia, atherosclerosis and thrombosis is highly complicated. There is no prospective study on fibrinogen and cardiovascular disorders among Japanese. Studying plasma fibrinogen to predict cardiovascular disorders may provide some new insight into their pathophysiological mechanisms.