What does plasma fibrinogen concentration mean?

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Tran Quoc Tuan - Head of the ICU - ICU - Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital

Plasma fibrinogen concentration is one of the basic blood coagulation tests that play an important role in the diagnosis as well as monitoring and prognosis of some diseases in the human body.

Fibrinogen is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 340,000, synthesized by the liver and has a half-life of 4-5 days. Measurement of plasma fibrinogen concentration as an antigenic protein. Immunoassay measures protein levels, however, it does not provide information on the biological activity of fibrinogen. This useful technique is used to elucidate a dysfibrinogenemia.
Measurement of fibrinogen concentration by Clauss method: This is the most commonly used technique. Add excess thrombin to the patient's plasma and measure the clotting time of this plasma after diluting the plasma to precisely defined ratios. Coagulation and hemostasis times are calculated in seconds proportional to the fibrinogen concentration and the fibrinogen content can be calculated in mg/dL, using a standard curve.
Fibrinogen participates in many processes in the body such as:
Participates in the inflammatory response, in which there is a close relationship between the plasma fibrinogen concentration and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the concentration of reactive proteins. C (CRP). Involved in blood clotting: Thrombin stimulates the formation of fibrin from fibrinogen. This fibrin monomer, when added by factor XIII (fibrin stabilizing factor) will form a stable fibrin clot at the injury site to prevent bleeding, blood loss due to vascular damage by blood clots. In liver disease, fibrinogen levels are often found to be lowered in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and in severe hepatitis (acute or chronic). This decrease in fibrinogen levels reflects the severity of liver disease and a fibrinogen level <150 mg/dL usually predicts a poor prognosis.

Evaluation of the degree of inflammatory syndrome. In infectious diseases, cancers, and autoimmune diseases, plasma fibrinogen levels help assess the degree of inflammatory syndrome (in combination with erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein [CRP]).
Assess severity of liver disease. In hepatobiliary tract disease, plasma fibrinogen concentration can be used to assess the severity of liver disease (in combination with antithrombin III, Quick time, albumin and cholesterol levels).
Evaluation of hemostasis to indicate surgery. Prior to major surgery, quantification of fibrinogen as part of the preoperative bilan (in combination with tests to evaluate bleeding time, cephalin time, Quick time, and platelet count) assesses whether the patient is Are you eligible for surgery?
Diagnosis of disseminated coagulation. In cases where disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is suspected, a decrease in plasma fibrinogen concentrations and platelet counts is associated with increased levels of fibrin degradation products
In the bleeding syndrome, Determination of fibrinogen levels helps detect hypofibrinogenemia or dysfibrinogenemia. In patients with thrombosis, especially arterial thrombosis, quantification of fibrinogen is a valuable test for finding the underlying cause of thrombosis.
To detect coagulation disorders in patients with bleeding syndrome because fibrinogen is a substrate that participates in the whole process of coagulation testing.
Detect increased plasma fibrinogen concentrations when there is a risk of vascular disease such as acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or as a result of an acute reaction.
Detection of congenital or acquired abnormalities of fibrinogen. Monitor thrombolytic therapy: fibrinolytic therapy.

>> See more: The role of plasma in the body - Article written by Specialist Doctor II Le Thi Na - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

RBC rupture of the specimen or blood transfusion. Quantitative plasma fibrinogen test results may be altered when erythrocyte rupture occurs in the specimen or if the patient receives a blood transfusion within one month of the test.
Some drugs affect. Certain drugs can increase plasma fibrinogen concentrations, such as: oral contraceptives. Some drugs can reduce plasma fibrinogen concentration: Atenolol, cholesterol-lowering drugs, corticosteroids, hormonal drugs such as estrogen, progestin, fluorouracil, thrombolytics, ticlopidine, valproic acid.