Summary
The native fibrin gel structure formed in vitro from plasma samples was examined by
liquid permeation of the hydrated fibrin gel networks in 18 men who had suffered a
myocardial infarction before the age of 45 years and in 20 control subjects. Patients
with an elevated plasma fibrinogen concentration had a considerably lower fibrin gel
porosity (permeability coefficient, K
s) compared with patients with a normal plasma fibrinogen level and with controls.
The calculated fiber mass-length ratio of the fibrin gel networks was decreased in
both patient groups. Gel porosity differed markedly between individuals at a given
plasma fibrinogen concentration. Fairly strong inverse correlations were found between
plasma orosomucoid level on the one hand and K
s (r = –0.617, p <0.01) or fiber mass-length ratio (r = –0.499, p <0.05) on the other. The low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration
also correlated inversely with K
s (r = –0.471, p <0.05) and fiber mass-length ratio (r = –.522, p <0.05). Significant inverse relations, which were independent of plasma fibrinogen
and lipoprotein concentrations, were detected between K
s (r = –.519, p <0.05) and calculated fiber mass-length ratio (r = –.723, p <0.001) and number and severity of coronary artery stenoses determined by angiography.
A proneness to formation of tight, rigid and space-filling fibrin network structures
with small pores thus appears to be associated with premature coronary artery disease.
