Association between plasma fibrinogen level and severity of cerebral large-artery stenosis

Objective To investigate the association between plasma fibrinogen(Fib) level and severity of cerebral large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis in patients with cerebral ischemic stroke. Methods 317 patients with ischemic stroke undergoing cerebral angiography(DSA) were studled. All patients were divided into two groups according to the findings of DSA. Stenosis group (n = 174) included patients with large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis(stenosis≥50% ,at least one of large arteries),and control group (n = 143) included patients without artery stenosis or mild stenosis(stenosis50%). Results The Fib levels in large-artery atherosclerotie stenosis group were higher than those in control group. and rate of abnormal plasma Fib level(Fib4.0 g/L) in large artery atherosclerotic stenosis group(36.78%) was also higher than that in control group (15.38%). The rate of large artery atherosclerotic stenosis(stenosis≥50%) increased gradually with tbe plasma level of the Fib (χ~2 = 23.10,P = 0.000). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis showed tha plasma Fib level was an independent and strong risk factor for cerebral large artery atherosclerotic stenosis (OR = 1.558, 95% CI: 1.164-2.087, P = 0.003). Conclusions The elevated plasma Fib was significantly correlated with the severity of cerebral large-ar-tery atherosclerosis,and may play a more important role than other traditional risk factors.