title: Plasma fibrin D-dimer levels and risk of stable coronary artery disease: results of a large case-control study.
abstract: Increased levels of fibrin D-dimer are indicative of a hypercoagulable state, as found in acute coronary syndromes. Few well-controlled studies have assessed D-dimers in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). We measured levels of D-dimers (in ng/mL by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in 312 patients with angiographically proved CAD and stable angina pectoris and in 477 age- and sex-matched healthy blood donors. Demographic characteristics were assessed by a standardized questionnaire, and a complete lipid profile was performed for all subjects. In addition, a variety of other markers of hemostasis and inflammation were measured. The distribution of D-dimer levels was skewed to the right, and plasma median levels were higher in cases than in controls (median: 11.2 vs 2.8 ng/mL; P<0.001). In controls, correlations of D-dimer were found with fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, and interleukin-6. In logistic regression analysis, the age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the presence of CAD was 2.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9 to 3.5) when the highest quartile of the D-dimer distribution was compared with the combined lower 3 quartiles. The OR did not change appreciably after controlling for nonlipid risk factors (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.9 to 3.9) and remained significant after further adjustment for other hemostatic parameters (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7 to 3.3) and markers of inflammation (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.5 to 2.9). Plasma D-dimer levels are strongly and independently associated with the presence of CAD in patients with stable angina pectoris. These results support the concept of a contribution of intravascular fibrin to atherothrombogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II-Cardiology, University of Ulm Medical Center, University of Ulm, Ulm, Sweden.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rothenbacher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmeister
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griesshammer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brenner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D