Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Measurement of Factor V Activity in Human Plasma Using a Microplate Coagulation Assay
Published on: September 9, 2012
[Factor VII and protein-C markers are no prognostic indicators in acute coronary heart disease]
O Friesewinkel1, G A Marbet, R Ritz
1Gerinnungs- und Fibrinolyselaboratorium, Abteilung für Intensivmedizin, DIM, Kantonsspital Basel.
Insights
Fibrinogen, factor VII, and protein C levels do not predict outcomes in acute coronary heart disease (aCHD). Assays for these factors lack prognostic relevance in aCHD patient subgroups.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Fibrinogen and factor VII are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
- Previous research suggested a link between factor VII coagulant activity and acute coronary heart disease (aCHD) manifestations.
- The prognostic significance of these factors in different aCHD clinical evolutions requires further investigation.
Purpose:
- To prospectively evaluate the prognostic relevance of fibrinogen, factor VII (VII:C, VII:am, VII:Ag), and protein C (PCf, PC:Ag) in patients with acute coronary heart disease (aCHD).
- To determine if these hemostatic markers can differentiate between prognostically distinct aCHD subgroups: unstable angina (UA), myocardial infarction without heart failure (M-I), and myocardial infarction with heart failure (M-II).
Summary:
- A prospective study compared hemostatic markers in 76 aCHD patients (26 UA, 23 M-I, 27 M-II) and 27 controls.
- No significant differences were found in fibrinogen, factor VII, or protein C levels between control and aCHD groups or their subgroups.
- While the VII:C/VII:Ag ratio was elevated in aCHD patients, it did not distinguish between prognostically different aCHD subgroups.
Impact:
- This study indicates that routine measurements of fibrinogen, factor VII, and protein C lack prognostic value in acute coronary heart disease.
- The findings suggest that these specific hemostatic markers are not useful for predicting clinical outcomes or stratifying risk within different aCHD presentations.
- Further research may be needed to identify other biomarkers with prognostic relevance in cardiovascular disease management.
Abstract:
Fibrinogen and factor VII have been identified as independent risk factors in cardiovascular morbidity. A relationship between factor VII coagulant activity (VII:C) and prognostically different manifestations of acute coronary heart disease (aCHD) has recently been suggested. In order to validate and to extend these observations, we prospectively studied patients admitted for aCHD (n = 76) and a control group without aCHD (CG, n = 27). According to their clinical evolution, the aCHD cases were subdivided into unstable angina (UA, n = 26), myocardial infarction without (M-I, n = 23) and with heart failure (M-II, n = 27). Before treatment blood was collected for the following assays: fibrinogen, factor VII procoagulant activity (VII:C), amidolytic test (VII:am), immunological (VII:Ag), protein C functional (PCf) and immunological (PC:Ag). We found no statistically significant difference between control and aCHD cases and between their subgroups for any assay of fibrinogen, factor VII and protein C. The VII:C/VII:Ag ratio was higher for UA, M-I, M-II and the entire aCHD group compared with the CG. However, it was not possible to separate the prognostically different aCHD subgroups from each other by ratios of measured values. Therefore, determinations of factor VII, protein C and fibrinogen in aCHD have no prognostic relevance.
More Related Videos
10:03Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
08:51Application of Unsupervised Multi-Omic Factor Analysis to Uncover Patterns of Variation and Molecular Processes Linked to Cardiovascular Disease
Published on: September 20, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies