The influence of alpha and beta fibrinogen genes’ polymorphisms on plasma fibrinogen level

Elevated plasma fibrinogen concen­tration is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In addition to several factors such as advanced age, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disea­ses, elevated plasma cholesterol and glucose, and smoking, also genetic factors have been shown to influence plasma fibrinogen level. Stu­dies on influence of TaqI, HaeIII and BclI poly­morphisms on plasma fibrinogen concentration have shown contradictory results. Therefore, the influence of TaqI, HaeIII and BclI polymorp­hisms on plasma fibrinogen concentration was in­vestigated in healthy subjects from Slovenia. 143 healthy volunteers were included in the cross-sectional study. Fibrinogen values were determined with a clotting assay. Polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction and digestion with Taql, HaeIII and BclI restriction enzymes. Statistical analysis was performed with Student’s t-test, analysis of variance, χ² test and multiple regression analysis. ln all indi­viduals mean plasma fibrinogen concentration was 2.78 g/l (95% confidence interval 2.65–2.92 g/l), in smokers higher than in non-smo­kers (not significant; p = 0.40). Polymorphism TaqI was not associated with plasma fibrinogen level. There was a significant association between plasma fibrinogen concentration and HaeIII (p = 0.04) and BclI (p = 0.04) polymorphisms in the group of non-smokers. 5% of the plasma fibrino­gen variance in non-smokers could be attributed to the HaeIII polymorphism (p = 0.03). ln smokers, there was no association between HaeIII and BclI polymorphisms and plasma fibrinogen level.