Objective: The -455 G/A (HaeIII) polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene influences levels of plasma fibrinogen. We further investigated whether it influences the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.
Methods: We accumulated 134 acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) cases and compared their -455 G/A status with a control group (n = 166). The beta-fibrinogen gene -455 G/A polymorphism was analyzed for all subjects by PCR-RFLP with the restrictive enzyme HaeIII.
Results: Plasma fibrinogen was higher in AA homozygous participants (341 mg/dL) than in participants carrying the G allele: GA (290 mg/dL), GG (298 mg/dL) in the control group. Plasma fibrinogen was also higher in AA homozygous patients (353 mg/dL) than in cases carrying the G allele: GA (287 mg/dL), GG (302 mg/dL) in the ICVD group. However, there was no significant association between beta-fibrinogen gene -455 G/A polymorphism and ICVD group.
Conclusions: Although a small effect cannot be excluded, beta-fibrinogen gene -455 G/A polymorphism is an independent predictor of plasma fibrinogen, but not of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.