title: G-455A polymorphism of the fibrinogen beta gene and deep vein thrombosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated fibrinogen levels have been linked to increased risk for deep venous thrombosis, although it is not clear whether fibrinogen is causal or rather a marker for the presence of other risk factors. A common G/A polymorphism in the gene for the fibrinogen beta-chain (FGB G-455A) is associated with elevated fibrinogen levels. The present study was designed to analyze the role of this genetic marker for deep venous thrombosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a case-control study including 307 patients with documented deep venous thrombosis and 316 control subjects. beta-fibrinogen genotypes were determined by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GG, GA and AA genotype frequencies were similar among the patients (53.1%, 41.0, 5.9) and controls (51.6%, 42.1, 6.3; P = 0.92). Fibrinogen levels of the patients (median 3.72 g l-1; range 1.93-11.6) did not differ significantly from those of the controls (3.76; 2.17-9.99). Carriers of the homozygous AA genotype had significantly higher fibrinogen levels than noncarriers (patients: 5.32 vs. 3.59; P = 0.024; controls: 6.29 vs. 3.72; P = 0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that the fibrinogen-elevating FGB G-455A gene polymorphism is not linked to an increased risk for deep venous thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Karl-Franzens University, Graz, Austria. wilfried.renner@kfunigraz.ac.at
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cichocki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forjanics
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köppel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pilger
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000235:genetics*; D017491:Genes, APC; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D005340:Fibrinogen