Fibrinogen in Ischemic Stroke A Case-Control Study

Background and Purpose—To determine the contribution of fibrinogen levels and FGG haplotypes to ischemic stroke. Methods—Associations between fibrinogen levels, fibrinogen /total fibrinogen ratio, and FGG haplotypes with the risk of ischemic stroke were determined in 124 cases and 125 controls. Results—Fibrinogen /total fibrinogen ratio was higher in patients than in controls during the acute phase of the stroke and lower in the convalescent phase 3 months after the stroke. FGG haplotype 3 (H3) was associated with a reduced risk of ischemic stroke (odds ratio 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.94), but not with the fibrinogen /total fibrinogen ratio. In contrast, FGG-H2 was associated with a decreased fibrinogen /total fibrinogen ratio, but not with risk of stroke. Conclusions—Fibrinogen /total fibrinogen ratio is associated with ischemic stroke, especially in the acute phase of the disease. In addition, FGG-H3 haplotype appears to be protective against ischemic stroke. (Stroke. 2008;39:1033-1035.)