Fibrinogen and cardiovascular disorders.

Plasma fibrinogen is involved in blood coagulation and is an important determinant of blood viscosity and hence of blood flow. There is also considerable epidemiological evidence that elevated plasma fibrinogen levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, including ischaemic heart disease, stroke and other thromboembolic events. This increase in plasma fibrinogen levels may promote a prothrombotic or hypercoagulable state, and may in part explain the risk of stroke and thromboembolism in conditions such as atrial fibrillation and cardiac dysfunction. This review examines the close association between plasma fibrinogen and various cardiovascular disorders.