[Plasma fibrinogen during the acute stage of angina or myocardial infarct]

We prospectively studied the fibrinogen plasma levels of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina (UA) whose diagnosis was based on clinical, electrocardiographical, enzymatic or pirophosphate scintigraphy data. Forty patients were included, 21 with AMI and 19 with UA, each group as well as both were compared to 10 normal individuals. The AMI group consisted of 15 male and 6 female with ages ranging from 35 to 69 years (mean 56.4); the UA group included 15 male and 4 female with an range from 38 to 69 (mean 53.1); the control group was made up 4 male and 6 female with an age range from 28 to 62 years (mean 52.3). All patients had plasma determination of fibrinogen, protrombin time, partial tromboplastin time, platelet count, cholesterol and risk factor for coronary artery disease were obtained on admission. There were no significant differences in regard to platelet count or coagulation times. Fibrinogen was elevated (> 450 mg/ dL) in 27 patients: 15 with AMI: 9 with UA and 3 normal individuals. The comparison of plasma fibrinogen levels between the control group and AMI patients was 397 +/- 131 vs 695 +/- 174, respectively (p < 0.001). Comparison between control group and the UA patients was 397 +/- 131 vs 455 +/- 108, respectively (p = 0.19 NS), and the comparison between the control group and AMI and UA patients gives 397 +/- 131 vs 534 +/- 164 (p < 0.001): Elevated fibrinogen seems to be a contributing factor for coronary artery disease and seems to be a risk factor with as much weight as any other.