title: Decreased hemoglobin levels are associated with higher plasma level of fibrinogen, irrespective of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased plasma levels of fibrinogen are been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular accident. We aimed at verifying whether the changes of fibrinogen levels are associated with red blood cell (and/or hemoglobin) concentration.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 381 carefully selected healthy volunteers (219 male and 162 female), aged from 18 to 101 years, were enrolled in this study. Fasting blood samples were taken and all measurements (fibrinogen plasma level, whole blood viscosity, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value, red blood cell and white blood cell count, platelet count, glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides plasma concentration, and C-reactive protein level) were obtained with standardized methodology using appropriate equipment, procedures, and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the male but not in the female group, plasma fibrinogen concentration inversely correlated with hemoglobin (P < 0.0001) and hematocrit value (P < 0.01). In a post hoc analysis, plasma fibrinogen level inversely correlated with hemoglobin in the subgroup of the 93 premenopausal women and directly correlated with age and inversely correlated with platelet count in the subgroup of the 69 postmenopausal women. Results of multiple regression analysis revealed that in all the subjects, except in the postmenopausal women, hemoglobin level is an independent predictor of fibrinogen plasma level. Considering the physiopathologic role of increased plasma fibrinogen concentration and the scarcity of pharmacologic approaches to decrease its level, these findings could be important in designing a preventive therapy of cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. ludovico.coppola@unina2.it
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guastafierro
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sagristani
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasuti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Biase
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tirelli
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gombos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005340:Fibrinogen