Association between Plasma Fibrinogen Level and Saphenous Vein Graft Patency.
BACKGROUND
Fibrinogen is related to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The inflammatory process in atherosclerosis may cause an increase in plasma fibrinogen level. Therefore, in this study we proposed to investigate whether plasma fibrinogen is associated with the patency of saphenous vein graft in patients at least 1 year after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.


METHODS
Patients who had undergone CABG surgery at least 1 year previously with at least one saphenous vein graft were included in the study. Patients were directed to cardiac catheterization for stable anginal symptoms or positive stress test results. Before coronary angiography, all patients underwent routine blood tests including assessment of plasma fibrinogen levels.


RESULTS
Saphenous vein grafts were found to be patent in 199 patients and occluded in 132 patients. Plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly different between the two groups (2.85 ± 0.49 g/L vs. 3.62 ± 0.82 g/L, p < 0.001, respectively). Although the time duration after CABG operation differs significantly between the two groups (p = 0.004), multiple logistic regression analysis showed that plasma fibrinogen levels were found to be significantly associated with the patency of vein graft (odds ratio = 0.27, 95% confidence internal: 0.16-0.48, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrated that plasma fibrinogen levels were higher in patients with an occluded saphenous vein graft. To conclusively prove the relationship between plasma fibrinogen values and saphenous vein graft patency, additional investigation would be necessary.


BACKGROUND
Atherosclerosis; Coronary artery bypass graft; Fibrinogen; Saphenous vein.
Department of Cardiology, Yuksek Ihtisas Heart-Education and Research Hospital, Ankara;
Sinan
S
Cersit
Department of Cardiology, Yuksek Ihtisas Heart-Education and Research Hospital, Ankara;
Serkan
S
Cay
Department of Cardiology, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.
Yavuzer
Y
Koza
Department of Cardiology, Yuksek Ihtisas Heart-Education and Research Hospital, Ankara;
Sadik Kadri
SK
Acikgoz
Department of Cardiology, Yuksek Ihtisas Heart-Education and Research Hospital, Ankara;
Gizem
G
Cabuk
Department of Cardiology, Yuksek Ihtisas Heart-Education and Research Hospital, Ankara;
Bihter
B
Senturk
Department of Cardiology, Yuksek Ihtisas Heart-Education and Research Hospital, Ankara;
Pinar
P
Dogan