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OBJECTIVE: Arterial stiffness increases with age and predicts cardiovascular disease. Fibrinogen is an acute-phase protein and some studies showed an association with arterial stiffness. We studied genetic variation in the fibrinogen-alpha (FGA) and fibrinogen-gamma (FGG) genes, by means of single nucleotide polymorphisms (FGA: -58 G/A, 1374 G/A, 1526 T/C, 312 Thr/Ala, and FGG: 4288 G/A, 6326 G/A, 7792 T/C) and resultant haplotypes in relation to arterial stiffness. METHODS: The present study (n = 3891) was embedded in the Rotterdam Study. Associations of the fibrinogen level, genotypes and haplotypes with aortic stiffness (pulse wave velocity), carotid stiffness (distensibility coefficient) and pulse pressure were investigated in men and women by analyses of variance, linear regression and by haplotype analyses. Analyses were adjusted for age, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, known cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Genotype analyses yielded associations of FGA-58 G/A (P = 0.040, for trend) and FGA-1526 T/C (P = 0.004, for trend) with the fibrinogen levels, but no consistent associations with arterial stiffness, in women. FGA-haplotype 4 was associated with the fibrinogen level (P = 0.02) in women. FGA-haplotype 3 and FGG-haplotype 2 were associated with aortic stiffness (P = 0.05) in women. No associations were found in men. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that the fibrinogen level and genetic variation in the FGA and FGG genes may influence arterial stiffness in women.

Original publication

DOI

10.1097/hjh.0b013e32832a95b0

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of hypertension

Publication Date

07/2009

Volume

27

Pages

1392 - 1398

Addresses

Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Keywords

Arteries, Humans, Fibrinogen, Genotype, Haplotypes, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Compliance, Aged, Female, Male, Genetic Variation