Measuring plasma fibrinogen to predict stroke and myocardial infarction.

Epidemiological observations indicate that high plasma fibrinogen levels are strongly correlated with the frequency of two major thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis, stroke and myocardial infarction. Thrombosis is increasingly recognized as a central mechanism in stroke and myocardial infarction, and fibrinogen is involved in events thought to play a major role in thrombosis. Therefore, elucidation of the relationship between fibrinogen and thrombosis may strengthen the predictive value of this protein and suggest new treatment to prevent stroke and myocardial infarction. The current data relating fibrinogen to thrombosis are not easy to reconcile with the available epidemiological observations. In addition, advances in understanding the atherogenic potential of several risk factors for coronary heart disease have used information on the measurement of the risk factors in population-based studies. Thus, measuring plasma fibrinogen to predict stroke and myocardial infarction may be important in gaining insight into the thrombogenic potential of this protein and in inspiring new strategies against the thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis.