Understanding the controversy surrounding the correlation between fibrinogen level and prognosis of coronary artery disease-The role of the subtypes of coronary artery disease

U-Shaped Relationship Between Fibrinogen Level and 10-year Mortality in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: Prospective Cohort Study

This study demonstrated that fibrinogen is an independent risk factor for 10-year mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), with a U-shaped nonlinear relationship observed between the two. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring fibrinogen levels and the consideration of long-term anti-inflammatory treatment in the clinical management of patients with ACS.

Blood fibrinogen level as a biomarker of adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The association between elevated fibrinogen level and adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains conflicting. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association between fibrinogen level and adverse outcomes in CAD patients.

METHODS

Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases from their inception to September 30, 2021. Observational studies that investigated the association of blood fibrinogen level with cardiovascular death, all-cause mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular events were eligible.

RESULTS

A total of 20,395 CAD patients from 15 articles (13 studies) were included. Comparison with the highest and the lowest fibrinogen level indicated that elevated fibrinogen level was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular death (risk ratio [RR] 2.24; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69-2.98), all-cause mortality (RR 1.88; 95% CI 1.50-2.36), and major adverse cardiovascular events (RR 1.46; 95% CI 1.18-1.81).

CONCLUSION

Elevated fibrinogen level is significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with CAD. Baseline fibrinogen level can serve as a promising biomarker for risk stratification of CAD.

Correlation Analysis of Acute Coronary Syndrome with Serum IL-18, MMP-9, hs-CRP, and Plasma FIB

Aim

This study attempted to investigate the diagnostic value of interleukin-18 (IL-18), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and fibrinogen (FIB) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and their correlation with the degree of vascular lesions.

Materials and Methods

Altogether 206 patients with coronary heart disease admitted to our hospital were selected as research objects, including 136 patients with ACS (group A), 70 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) (group B), and 60 patients with noncoronary heart disease who had normal coronary angiography during the same period were selected as group C. The levels of IL-18, MMP-9, and hs-CRP in the serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the level of FIB in plasma was detected by automatic coagulation analyzer.

Results

Serum IL-18, MMP-9, hs-CRP, and plasma FIB levels in group A were significantly higher than those in group B and group C (p < 0.05). ROC curve and multivariate logistic regression showed that the sensitivity and specificity of combined diagnosis of ACS with serum IL-18, MMP-9, hs-CRP, and plasma FIB were 86.03% and 95.71%, respectively. Serum IL-18, MMP-9, hs-CRP, and plasma FIB were positively correlated with Gensini grading (p < 0.001). Serum IL-18, MMP-9, hs-CRP, and plasma FIB levels were positively correlated (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The combined detection of serum IL-18, MMP-9, hs-CRP, and plasma FIB has good diagnostic value for ACS, and these index levels are positively correlated with the degree of vascular lesions.

Fibrinogen and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases-Review of the Literature and Clinical Studies

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), including coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease, represent a significant cause of premature death worldwide. Biomarkers, the evaluation of which would allow the detection of ASCVD at the earliest stage of development, are intensively sought. Moreover, from a clinical point of view, a valuable biomarker should also enable the assessment of the patient’s prognosis. It has been known for many years that the concentration of fibrinogen in plasma increases, inter alia, in patients with ASCVD. On the one hand, an increased plasma fibrinogen concentration may be the cause of the development of atherosclerotic lesions (increased risk of atherothrombosis); on the other hand, it may be a biomarker of ASCVD, as it is an acute phase protein. In addition, a number of genetic polymorphisms and post-translational modifications of fibrinogen were demonstrated that may contribute to the risk of ASCVD. This review summarizes the current data on the importance of fibrinogen as a biomarker of ASCVD, and also presents the relationship between molecular modifications of this protein in the context of ASCVD.