Association between fibrinogen and carotid atheromatous plaque in patients with ischemic stroke

Wei CHEN; Jie CHENG; Genfa WANG; Xinghua CHEN

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Increase of fibrinogen is an independent risk factor for cardio-cerebrovascular disease and peripheral angiopathy. Fibrinogen and its degradation product exist in carotid atheromatous plaque and it can stimulate proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells so as to play a key role in early atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE:

To analyze the relationship between plasma fibrinogen and carotid atheromatous plaque.

DESIGN:

Descriptive observation.

SETTING:

Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital, Medical Collegeof Shanghai Jiaotong University.

PARTICIPANTS:

A total of 81 patients with ischemic stroke were selected from Neurological Department of Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University from September to December 2001.There were 53 males and 28 females aged 41-85 years with the mean age of (65±11) years.

METHODS:

On the basis of carotid ultrasonography, 81 patients with ischemic stroke were divided into present plaque group (n=45) and absent plaque group (n=36) to measure plasma fibrinogen, serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and other risk factors of atherosclerosis so as to observe the correlation between risk indexes and carotid atheromatous plaque.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Risk indexes of carotid atherosclerosis and carotid atheromatous plaque.

RESULTS:

All 81 patients were involved in the final analysis. ① Values of fibrinogen, TC and LDL-C in present plaque group were (4.38±1.33) g/L,(5.19±1.27) mmol/L and (3.15±0.37) mmol/L, respectively, which were higher than those in absent plaque group [(3.20±1.30) g/L, (4.56±1.30) mmol/L,(2.49±0.92) mmol/L, P ＜ 0.05]. ② Ratios of carotid atheromatous plaque were 11% (5 cases), 16% (7 cases) and 73% (33 cases) in fibrinogen groups at Iow, moderate and high dosages, respectively. There was significant difference (P =0.002). ③ Multiple factor analyses of carotid atherosclerosis showed that the risk factors which promoted the formation of carotid atheromatous plaque were diabetes mellitus, low density lipoprotein (LDL), fibrinogen and age growing.

CONCLUSION:

Fibrinogen plays an active role in development and progression of carotid atheromatous plaque.