Objective: To study the effect of the -455G-->A substitution on influencing fibrinogen levels and morbidity in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS).
Methods: 53 patients with BCS diagnosed by color Doppler-ultrasound and venography and 105 healthy persons as control were observed. Assay of plasma fibrinogen was performed by the method of enzymatic reaction. DNA was extracted from white cells using the phenol/chloroform method. beta fibrinogen gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques using thermostable Taq polymerase under conditions recommended by the manufacturer.
Results: The frequencies of -455GA+AA genotype were significantly increased in patients with BCS compared with normal controls (P <0.05, OR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.03-4.02). There was a significant difference in plasma fibrinogen levels between BCS subjects and control subjects (P <0.01). Either in patients with BCS or in healthy controls, the plasma fibrinogen levels was significantly increased seen in the subjects with -455A alleles (0.01< P <0.05).
Conclusions: beta fibrinogen gene -455G/A polymorphism is associated with increased plasma fibrinogen levels and may be an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of BCS.