Expression of a paternal history of premature myocardial infarction on fibrinogen, factor VIIC and PAI-1 in European offspring--the EARS study. European Atherosclerosis Research Study Group.

To assess the role of genetic and environmental factors in the predisposition to atherosclerosis, 682 students whose father had suffered a myocardial infarction before the age of 55 ("cases") and 1312 controls matched for age and sex, were recruited from 14 Universities in Europe. Fibrinogen, factor VIIc and PAI-1 were compared between cases and controls across European regions. Fibrinogen and factor VIIc were positively correlated with BMI, smoking and contraception. PAI-1 was positively and independently correlated with BMI and waist-to-hip ratio, and negatively with contraception. Factor VIIc and PAI-1 were correlated with cholesterol and triglycerides, and fibrinogen was weakly correlated with LDL-cholesterol. After adjustment for covariates and lipids, fibrinogen level was significantly higher in male cases than in controls (2.38 vs 2.29, p < 0.01). No such difference was found in females (2.59 vs 2.57 - NS). There was no significant case/control difference for factor VIIc and PAI-1. These results support the hypothesis that fibrinogen is a transmissible risk factor of coronary artery disease in males. No such evidence was provided for factor VIIc and PAI-1.