Elevated plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with essential hypertension are related to vascular complications

Abstract

Aim. We investigated whether or not fibrinogen is related to the cardiovascular risk profile and complications in hypertensive subjects. Methods. Plasma fibrinogen and laboratory tests including factor VII, homocysteine and microalbuminuria were evaluated in 127 consecutive hypertensive subjects stratified according to cardiovascular risk. Parameters were age, gender, smoking, cholesterol, diabetes, target organ damage: left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), carotid atherosclerotic complications and retinical vessels. Results. Fibrinogen levels were significantly different between patients according to risk levels (low 290±73, n=20, high 342±94 mg/dl, n=39, very high risk 350±72, n=29, p=0.01), hypertension grade (II-III) and organ damage. Fibrinogen was significantly higher in patients with more severe carotid atherosclerotic lesions and vascular retinal lesions (grades II-III vs 0 and I). Also in patients, matched for age and sex, without and with carotid atherosclerotic lesions, fibrinogen was significantly higher in the latter group. No significant differences were found on the basis of IVS, creatinine and microalbuminuria. In hypertensive patients, fibrinogen directly correlated with age, by multiple linear regression. In hypertensive patients with diabetes, fibrinogen was significantly higher (466±176 mg/dL, n=14) than in those hypertensive without diabetes (333±87 mg/dL, n=113, p=0.001) and in all patients there was a a significant correlation (r=0.474, p<0.001) between blood glucose and fibrinogen. Conclusion. Hyperfibrinogenemia is a marker of vascular damage and could be an important factor contributing to the evolution of the complications.