Plasma fibrinogen and troponin I in acute coronary syndrome and stable angina.

We aimed to determine whether there is a stratification among patients with different stages of coronary artery disease with respect to plasma fibrinogen levels, and to assess diagnostic value of plasma fibrinogen in comparison to troponin I in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Fifty-one consecutive patients presenting to our department with acute coronary syndrome within the last 24 h and 52 patients with stable angina with no episode of unstable disease within the last month were analysed. Forty-nine patients with acute coronary syndrome in which both troponin I and fibrinogen levels were present were further evaluated. Blood was collected on admission for routine laboratory tests. Statistical analysis was done using Student's t-test, Pearson correlation and chi-square test, P<0.05 being considered statistically significant. Plasma fibrinogen levels (g/l) were significantly higher in patients presenting with unstable than with stable angina (3.87+/-1.2 vs. 3.26+/-0.65 P=0.002). We have found significant correlation between fibrinogen and troponin I levels in unstable patients (r=0.43, P=0.0015). In patients with acute coronary syndrome an increased inflammation and cardiac injury seem to coexist and correlate. These results seem to confirm the role of this acute phase protein in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome.