title: Fibrinogen promotes early atherosclerotic changes of the carotid artery in young, healthy adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether high plasma levels or activities of different hemostatic proteins contribute to the development of early atherosclerotic vessel wall changes. Elevated levels of various hemostatic proteins and markers of inflammation have been linked to an increased risk of ischemic cardiovascular events; however, the mechanisms by which these molecules might contribute to this increased risk is not clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries (CCA-IMT) of 125 healthy young volunteers without known cardiovascular risk factors was measured by high-resolution ultrasound. Plasma concentrations of fibrinogen, thrombomodulin, protein Z and CRP were quantified, and the plasma activities of protein C, plasminogen and factor VIII were measured. Other established risk factors, such as body mass index (BMI) and plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and homocysteine, were also determined. Furthermore, the carotid arteries were examined for the presence of plaques and stenoses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariate analysis showed a significant negative correlation between CCA-IMT and HDL cholesterol, and positive correlations with age, BMI, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, homocysteine, fibrinogen and thrombomodulin, but not with total cholesterol, lipoprotein(a) and hsCRP. CCA-IMT was also statistically independent of the activities of protein C, factor VIII and plasminogen. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant correlation of CCA-IMT with age, BMI and fibrinogen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that fibrinogen levels correlate with early atherosclerotic changes of the carotid artery in a population with very low cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Clinic, University Clinic Giessen and Marburg, Klinikstrasse 36, Giessen, Germany. Mathias.Grebe@innere.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Mathias T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Grebe
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luu
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sedding
authors.forename: Martin Clemens
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Heidt
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kemkes-Matthes
authors.forename: Christian Alexander
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Harald H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tillmanns
authors.forename: Dursun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gündüz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol