BACKGROUND: High plasma levels of coagulation factor VII (FVII) are associated with a risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Plasma FVII levels are influenced by environmental and genetic factors. We investigated whether the risk of CAD is associated with R353Q polymorphism and whether this polymorphism is associated with factor VII activity METHODS: We analysed plasma levels of FVII:C and FVII genotype for R353Q polymorphism in 85 CAD patients, 63 healthy controls, and 27 patient controls. And total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were measured in the same study populations. RESULTS: There was no difference among CAD patients, healthy controls, and patient controls in plasma levels of FVII:C. Allele Q of the R353Q polymorphism was less frequent in CAD patients (11.8%) than healthy controls (17.5%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Patients with the RQ genotype had a decreased risk of CAD (odds ratio, 0.29). There was no association between R353Q polymorphism and plasma levels of FVII:C. Plasma levels of FVII:C were positively correlated with total cholesterol and triglyceride. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that R353Q polymorphism may confer significant protection from CAD and that plasma levels of FVII:C may influenced by total cholesterol and triglyceride.
Alleles ; Blood Coagulation Factors* ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Factor VII* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Plasma ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen is an essential cofactor for blood coagulation. The fibrinogen level has been identified as a risk factor for coronary artery disease(CAD) and stroke, but the relationship between plasma fibrinogen levels and number of atherosclerotic vesssels has been less investigated. The aim of this study is assess the possible association between plasma fibrinogen levels and the number of coronary stenosis in patients with CAD undergoing coronary catheterization. We also investigated the usefulness of plasma fibrinogen to predict CAD in a case-control study of the middle-aged men and women. METHODS: We measured plasma fibrinogen, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride in 121 patients with CAD and in 109 healthy controls. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to assess risk factors for CAD. RESULTS: Plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly elevated in CAD group vs control group, 413.9+/-119.4 vs 296.3+/-74.1 mg/dL(P<0.001), respectively. The levels of plasma fibrinogen were not different according to the number of coronary stenosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of fibrinogen level and risk factors revealed 3 independent predictors of CAD: fibrinogen, body mass index and diabetes mellitus. Those with fibrinogen levels of 331-420 mg/dL had a 6.36-fold increased risk than fibrinogen levels of less than 270 mg/dL, while fibrinogen levels higher than 420 mg/dL had 3.53-fold increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide the evidence that plasma fibrinogen is associated with an increased risk of CAD. However, the plasma fibrinogen was not correlated with the severity of coronary stenosis.
Blood Coagulation ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Fibrinogen* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Plasma* ; Risk Factors* ; Stroke ; Triglycerides