The association between birth weight and plasma fibrinogen is abolished after the elimination of genetic influences
article
Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of atherothrombosis, which may be related in part to the association between low birth weight and high plasma fibrinogen. The association between birth weight and fibrinogen may be explained by intrauterine, socio-economic or genetic factors. We examined birth weight and fibrinogen in 52 dizygotic and 56 adolescent monozygotic (genetically identical) twin pairs. The dizygotic but not the monozygotic twins with the lowest birth weight from each pair had a fibrinogen level that was higher compared with their co-twins with the highest birth weight [dizygotic twins: 2.62±0.46 g L -1 vs. 2.50±0.41 g L -1 (P=0.04); monozygotic twins: 2.42±0.45 g L -1 vs. 2.49± 0.39 g L -1 (P=0.2)]. These findings suggest that the association between birth weight and plasma fibrinogen is abolished after the elimination of genetic influences and therefore that this association has genetic causes. Improvement of intrauterine nutrition may not lower fibrinogen levels in later life. © 2003 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Chemicals / CAS fibrinogen, 9001-32-5; Fibrinogen, 9001-32-5.
Topics
Birth weightFibrinogenGeneticsTwinsfibrinogenadolescentarticlebirth weightdizygotic twinsfemalegeneticshumanlow birth weightmalemetabolismmonozygotic twinsnewbornphysiologypregnancytwinsAdolescentBirth WeightFemaleFibrinogenHumansInfant, Low Birth WeightInfant, NewbornMalePregnancyTwins, DizygoticTwins, Monozygotic
TNO Identifier
953675
ISSN
15387933
Source
Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 1(2), pp. 239-242.
Pages
239-242
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