title: [Fibrinogen: a cardiovascular risk factor].
abstract: AN INDEPENDENT RISK FACTOR: Pathophysiological and epidemiological data show that fibrinogen is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis with a synergistic effect on classical risk factors.
  Serum fibrinogen level is an independent predictor of the presence and severity of atheromatous lesions of the coronary arteries. It is also predictive of coronary events such as sudden death, myocardial infarction or angina pectoris.
  Fibrinogen is also a marker of cerebrovascular events or transient ischemia and a factor predictive of recurrent cerebrovascular events. Serum fibrinogen level is correlated with the progression of carotid lesions. Finally, fibrinogen is an independent predictive factor of the severity of atherosclerosis of the thoracic aorta, lower limb arteriopathy, and more generally silent atherosclerotic plaques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large-scale prospective study is needed to determine whether drug-induced reduction in serum fibrinogen can reduce the rate of cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Service de Cardiologie B, CHU Sud, Amiens.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Colas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montalescot
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tribouilloy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen