OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between beta-fibrinogen gene -455G/A polymorphism and the plasma fibrinogen level in Chinese patients with different subtypes of coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated beta-fibrinogen gene -455G/A polymorphism and plasma fibrinogen level in non-CHD control subjects (n = 466) and CHD patients (n = 1,019) including patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n = 674), and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n = 345). Increased plasma fibrinogen levels were observed in the CHD groups compared with the control subjects (ACS: 380.92 +/- 92.35 mg/dl, SAP: 352.49 +/- 94.89 mg/dl, control: 311.72 +/- 87.09* mg/dl, *P < 0.001 vs. ACS and SAP). Individuals with the -455A/A genotype were associated with the highest plasma fibrinogen in the control subjects (P < 0.001) and patients with SAP (P < 0.001) but not in patients with ACS (P > 0.05). Allele frequency and genotype distribution were similar among the three groups (P = 0.314). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that elevated plasma fibrinogen level is related to increased CHD risk. The presence of -455A allele is significantly associated with higher fibrinogen in non-CHD control subjects and SAP patients but not in ACS patients while -455G/A polymorphism is not a risk factor for CHD in the Chinese population.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between beta-fibrinogen gene -455G/A polymorphism and the plasma fibrinogen level in Chinese patients with different subtypes of coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated beta-fibrinogen gene -455G/A polymorphism and plasma fibrinogen level in non-CHD control subjects (n = 466) and CHD patients (n = 1,019) including patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n = 674), and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n = 345). Increased plasma fibrinogen levels were observed in the CHD groups compared with the control subjects (ACS: 380.92 +/- 92.35 mg/dl, SAP: 352.49 +/- 94.89 mg/dl, control: 311.72 +/- 87.09* mg/dl, *P < 0.001 vs. ACS and SAP). Individuals with the -455A/A genotype were associated with the highest plasma fibrinogen in the control subjects (P < 0.001) and patients with SAP (P < 0.001) but not in patients with ACS (P > 0.05). Allele frequency and genotype distribution were similar among the three groups (P = 0.314). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that elevated plasma fibrinogen level is related to increased CHD risk. The presence of -455A allele is significantly associated with higher fibrinogen in non-CHD control subjects and SAP patients but not in ACS patients while -455G/A polymorphism is not a risk factor for CHD in the Chinese population.