Association between Polymorphisms in the Fibrinogen α- and β-Genes on the Post-trauma Fibrinogen Increase

• Published in: Thrombosis research 1998-12, Vol.92 (5), p.207-212
• Main Authors: Ferrer-Antunes, Carlos, de Maat, Moniek P.M., Palmeiro, Aida, Pimentel, Jorge, Fernandes, Victor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 455G/A polymorphism; Adult; Aged; Alleles; Biological and medical sciences; Craniocerebral Trauma - blood; Craniocerebral Trauma - genetics; Female; Fibrinogen; Fibrinogen - genetics; Fibrinogen - metabolism; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Injuries of the thorax. Foreign bodies. Diseases due to physical agents; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic - physiology; Thoracic Injuries - blood; Thoracic Injuries - genetics; Trauma; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
• ISSN: 0049-3848; 1879-2472
• DOI: 10.1016/S0049-3848(98)00143-1

Fibrinogen is an acute phase reactant, and therefore its plasma levels increase after severe injury. Polymorphisms in the fibrinogen α and β genes have been found to be associated with plasma levels of fibrinogen, and it has also been suggested that they are associated with the fibrinogen increase in acute phase situations. In forty-five consecutive patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit after acute cranial or thoracic trauma, we investigated the influence of four polymorphisms at the fibrinogen loci (−455G/A and BclI (β gene), TaqI and T/A312 (α gene)) on the post-trauma increase of the fibrinogen levels. At admission, fibrinogen levels were comparable in the patients with the different genotypes for the four polymorphisms studied. However, patients carrying the −455A allele of the −455G/A polymorphism had a significantly wider variation and higher peak levels of fibrinogen, during their stay at the intensive care unit, than did the −455GA homozygotes (5.1 g/l (SD 1.3) and 5.9 g/l (SD 1.0), respectively, p