Published online before print September 23, 2002, doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000033221.73082.06
(Circulation. 2002;106:1938.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports |
Altered Fibrin Clot Structure in the Healthy Relatives of Patients With Premature Coronary Artery Disease
From the Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, University of Leeds, United Kingdom.
Correspondence to Robert A.S. Ariëns, PhD, Academic Unit of Molecular Vascular Medicine, G Floor, Martin Wing, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX, United Kingdom. E-mail r.a.s.ariens{at}leeds.ac.uk
 |
Abstract |
|---|
 Top Abstract IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
Background— A family history of premature coronary artery disease (CAD) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. Fibrin clots composed of dense fiber networks are found in young CAD patients and may occur in the relatives of such individuals.
Methods and Results— The ex vivo fibrin structure of 100 healthy male relatives of patients with premature CAD and 100 age-matched control subjects was assessed by measurement of permeability (Ks), fiber mass-length ratio (µ), and turbidity (lag phase and maximum absorbency [max 
Abs]). Scanning electron microscopy was performed on selected samples. Relatives and controls shared similar levels of conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Ks was lower in relatives than in controls, 12.2 (11.1 to 13.3) versus 15.2 (14.0 to 16.5) x10-9 cm2 (P<0.001), associated with a smaller decrease in µ, 8.5 (7.7 to 9.2) versus 9.7 (8.9 to 10.5) x 1013 Da/cm (P<0.05), respectively. Lag phase was shorter in relatives than in controls, 39 (37 to 41) versus 47 (44 to 50) seconds (P<0.001), and max Abs was higher in relatives, 0.78 (0.74 to 0.82) versus 0.71 (0.67 to 0.74) in controls (P=0.02), which indicates the presence of thicker fibers in relatives. After adjustment for fibrinogen levels, lag phase and Ks remained significantly different between relatives and control subjects. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed increased fiber diameter in relatives, possibly of reduced density. Factor XIII Val34Leu and fibrinogen A
Thr312Ala and Bß -455 G/A showed no association with clot structure.
Conclusions— The male relatives of patients with premature CAD form fibrin clots that begin polymerization more quickly, have thicker fibers, and are less permeable than those of control subjects.
Key Words: fibrin structure • fibrinogen • coronary disease • thrombosis • fibrinolysis
|
Introduction |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
There is consensus that fibrinogen, tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and fibrin D-dimer are risk factors for the progression and development of coronary artery disease (CAD).1 The final product of coagulation is the formation of a fibrin clot, the structure and function of which is modulated by genetic and environmental factors that regulate the hemostatic system. Relatives of subjects with CAD are at increased risk of vascular disease,2 and alterations in fibrin structure/function may contribute to vascular risk in such individuals.
We performed a case-control study to investigate the structure of ex vivo fibrin clots from healthy male first-degree relatives of patients with severe CAD. The relationship between hemostatic factors, their genetic polymorphisms, and the biophysical properties of these fibrin clots was assessed.
|
Methods |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
Subjects
One hundred male first-degree relatives aged 65 years or less at the time of recruitment and free from a personal history of CAD were enrolled in the study. These subjects were the healthy relatives of patients (probands) with angiographically confirmed 2- or 3-vessel CAD based on World Health Organization criteria of >50% stenosis in a major epicardial vessel. Probands were identified via the surgical revascularization waiting list at the Yorkshire Heart Center, Leeds, and their clinical characteristics were as follows: median age 59 years (interquartile range 52 to 66 years); 52% had suffered a myocardial infarction; 30% were hypertensive; 12% had type 2 diabetes; and 94% were taking aspirin on a regular basis. Each of the 100 probands identified had a relative suitable for enrollment in the study. Additionally, 100 healthy male subjects aged 65 years or less without a personal or family history of CAD or diabetes mellitus were recruited from the Leeds Health Authority Family Health Service registry. Controls were matched to the first-degree relatives.
Ethical Consideration
All subjects were white and North European and gave informed consent according to a protocol approved by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals (NHS) Trust Research Ethics Committee.
Blood Sample and Data Collection
After a 10-hour overnight fast, 50 mL of blood was taken from an antecubital vein without stasis by use of a 19-gauge needle with the subject in a supine position. Blood was collected in lithium fluoride for plasma glucose estimation, lithium heparin for lipid fraction analysis, EDTA for DNA extraction, and in a 10-mL tube containing 1 mL of 0.9% citrate (pH 8.8) at room temperature for assay of fibrinogen, fibrin structure, and factor XIII (FXIII) and at 4°C for assay of tPA, PAI-1, and fibrin D-dimer. Citrate samples were centrifuged at 2560g for 20 minutes, and aliquots of 0.5 mL of plasma supernatant were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for storage at -40°C until assay. Blood pressure was measured to the nearest 2 mm Hg and calculated as a mean of 3 consecutive readings. Relatives and control subjects with a personal history of hypertension were excluded from subsequent blood pressure analysis.
Hemostatic Factor Measurement
Fibrinogen was measured as described previously.3 PAI-1, tPA, and fibrin D-dimer were measured with commercially available ELISA kits from Biopool International. FXIII A2B2 and B-subunits were determined by sandwich ELISA as described previously.4 A glucose oxidase method was used for measurement of plasma glucose, and a Hitachi 747 autoanalyzer was used for estimation of triglyceride and total cholesterol. HDL cholesterol was measured by a Hitachi 717 autoanalyzer after precipitation of LDL, chylomicrons, and VLDL with phosphotungstic acid and magnesium chloride. LDL cholesterol was calculated by the Friedewald equation.
Genotyping
Genotypes at the fibrinogen Bß-455 G/A polymorphism (classified as G/G, G/A, and A/A), fibrinogen A Thr312Ala (TT, TA, and AA), and FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism (V/V, V/L, and L/L) were analyzed as described previously.3,5,6
Fibrin Permeation Analysis
Plasma samples were incubated with 1 U/mL human thrombin (Sigma) and 20 mmol/L calcium in open tubes for 2 hours at room temperature in a wet chamber. The tubes containing the clots were connected via plastic tubing to a reservoir containing 0.05 mol/L Tris-HCl, 0.15 mol/L NaCl, pH 7.5, with a pressure drop of 4 cm. After washing, flow rates of buffer through the fibrin clots were measured by timing the permeation of 6 consecutive drops through each tube and recording the weight of each drop for exact volume. The Darcy constant, Ks, which represents the surface of the clot that allows flow through a fibrin network, was calculated as described previously.7 Fiber mass-length ratio (µ) was calculated from an equation involving Ks and the fibrinogen molar concentration.8
Turbidity Measurements
Plasma, diluted 2/3 with 0.05 mol/L Tris-HCl, 0.15 mol/L NaCl, pH 7.5, was incubated with 1 U/mL human thrombin (Sigma) and 16 mmol/L calcium in microtiter plates. Immediately on addition of thrombin/calcium, absorbency was read every 7 seconds at 350 nm for 15 minutes with a Dynex MRX2 plate reader. Lag phase, which is the time required for fibrin protofibrils to grow to sufficient length to allow lateral aggregation to occur and which is sensitive to a variety of factors including fibrinogen concentration and rate of fibrinopeptide A cleavage,9 was recorded as the time taken for absorbency to change by 0.01 from baseline. Maximum absorbency (max Abs), which has been shown to reflect average fibrin fiber size and therefore the number of protofibrils per fiber,9 was recorded as absorbency at 15 minutes minus the baseline. Turbidity curves reached a plateau within 15 minutes of analysis, and 2 replicate measurements were performed for each sample.
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Samples were selected from 8 subjects with fibrinogen concentrations of high and low values relative to the study group means, ie, 2 relatives and 2 controls each with a concentration of 3.3 g/L and 2 relatives and 2 control subjects with a concentration of 2.6 g/L. Clots were fixed by permeating them with a 2% (vol/vol) glutaraldehyde solution overnight, recovered from the tubes and further processed by dehydration.7,9 Samples were photographed digitally in 6 different areas with a Camscan IV scanning electron microscope (SEM) and secondary electron imaging for topographic contrast. To assess fiber thickness, a series of 50 x/y coordinates were generated randomly and applied to each SEM image. An independent observer measured fiber diameter at or nearest to each of the 50 coordinates. Only those fibers with clearly defined margins were measured. Similarly, 10 sets of randomly generated coordinates were used to assess the number of fibers per 4-µm2 SEM image area. All measurements were performed with Image J version 1.25s software (W. Rasband, National Institutes of Health).
Statistical Analysis
Values for age are presented as medians with 25th and 75th percentiles, and differences were assessed by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Values for fibrinogen, tPA, PAI-1, D-dimer, plasma fasting glucose, and triglycerides were log transformed, and data are presented as geometric means with antilog 95% CIs. An independent Student’s t test was used to assess differences in continuous data, and a 
2 test was used for differences in category frequencies. One-way ANOVA was used to identify any relationship between genotype and coagulation factor level and measures of clot structure/function. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to identify significant associations of Ks, lag phase, and max Abs with hemostatic factors and other continuous variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed for Ks, lag phase, and max Abs, and the data presented represent the best-fit model as determined by the R2 value. Analyses were performed with SPSS version 9.0.
|
Results |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
Clinical and biochemical data for relatives and controls are shown in Table 1. Age, lifestyle habits, and conventional cardiovascular risk factors were not different between relatives and control subjects. Three relatives and 2 controls were taking either a ß-blocker or an ACE inhibitor for hypertension. Exclusion of these subjects did not alter the results of the study, and they were therefore included in all analyses except SEM.
|
Hemostatic factor levels and data concerning ex vivo fibrin clot structure are shown in Table 2. Compared with control subjects, relatives produced fibrin clots that began formation more quickly (shorter lag phase), showed a greater change in absorbency (max Abs), and contained pores of a smaller size (lower Ks). Fiber mass-length ratio (µ) was also lower in relatives. Fibrinogen and tPA antigen levels were increased in relatives compared with controls. A nonsignificant trend toward elevated levels of FXIII A2B2 was observed in the relatives.
|
Fibrinogen demonstrated a strong and consistent relationship with all measures of clot structure in both groups, except lag phase in controls (Table 3). D-dimer was positively correlated with max Abs in relatives and controls and negatively correlated with Ks in relatives. tPA displayed a negative association with lag phase in control subjects, but neither PAI-1 nor FXIII A2B2 was associated with measures of fibrin clot structure. In relatives and controls, Ks was negatively correlated with max Abs and positively correlated with lag phase (data not shown).
|
The final linear regression analysis model for Ks is shown in Table 4. Only fibrinogen levels and being a relative of a CAD patient were independent predictors of Ks. Mean values for Ks adjusted for age, fibrinogen, max Abs, and lag phase, were 12.9x10-9 (11.7 to 14.0) cm2 in relatives versus 14.6x10-9 (13.5 to 15.7) cm2 in controls (P<0.05). Fibrinogen concentration and relative/control subject status were significant predictors of fiber mass-length ratio. Similar regression analysis was performed for lag phase, which resulted in adjusted mean lag phase times of 40 (38 to 43) seconds in relatives and 46 (43 to 48) seconds in control subjects (P<0.01). After adjustment for age, fibrinogen, Ks, and lag phase, being a relative was no longer associated with increased max Abs.
|
Digital images from a representative selection of SEMs obtained are shown in the Figure. Panels R1, R2, C1, and C2 represent 4 different fibrin clots, with the clots in the upper panels (R1 and C1) produced from plasma samples containing 3.3 g/L fibrinogen compared with 2.6 g/L of fibrinogen in the plasma used to produce the fibrin clots in the corresponding lower panels (R2 and C2). Overall fiber diameter was greater in relatives than in controls, with a mean thickness of 202 (187 to 218) versus 166 (157 to 177) nm (P<0.001) for high fibrinogen samples and 174 (161 to 187) versus 154 (144 to 164) nm (P=0.02) for low fibrinogen samples. High fibrinogen concentration was associated with increased fiber diameter in relatives (P=0.005) but did not reach statistical significance in controls (P=0.07). There were no observed differences in fiber number between relatives and controls or between the clots of high and low fibrinogen concentration.
|
Genotype frequencies for FXIII Val34Leu and fibrinogen A Thr312Ala were similar in relatives and controls. No clear or consistent relationship between genotype and any of the measures of fibrin clot structure was found.
|
Discussion |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
We have shown that the plasma from healthy male first-degree relatives of patients with premature CAD form ex vivo fibrin clots with abnormal structure. These clots were less porous, demonstrated a lower fibrin fiber mass-length ratio, contained thicker fibers, and began polymerization more quickly than those of a well-characterized and highly comparable group of control subjects. SEM images provided visual and additional quantitative information concerning the differences in fiber thickness between the 2 groups, although it is important to note that the SEMs were obtained from only a limited number of samples.
The few clinical studies that have examined fibrin structure/function have produced inconsistent findings. Greilich et al10 examined clot elastic modulus and fiber mass-length ratio in 14 patients with CAD and 10 healthy controls. Despite aspirin therapy, patients with severe CAD had more rigid clot structures and an elevated fiber mass-length ratio.10 In a further report, the fibrin gel structure of patients with type 1 diabetes was found to be less porous than that of nondiabetic controls, but this was not related to fibrinogen levels, and there was no difference in fiber mass-length ratio.11 Fatah et al12,13 identified both reduced permeability and fiber mass-length ratio in the fibrin gels from young patients after myocardial infarction. Independent associations between Ks and extent and severity of coronary artery stenosis12 and between Ks and fibrinolytic activity13 were also reported. There are no previous studies that investigated fibrin clot structure in the healthy relatives of CAD patients, nor are there any reports that have included permeation, turbidity measurements, and SEM images to visualize clot structure differences.
We found decreased fibrin clot permeability in first-degree relatives of patients with CAD, a finding consistent with those of Fatah et al12,13 in patients with myocardial infarction. We also found a decrease in fiber mass-length ratio, but turbidity measurements and analysis by SEM showed an increase in fiber thickness. Fiber mass-length ratio is calculated from the permeation constant, fibrin concentration, and fiber density, the latter of which, however, could not be measured in the present study and to which an assumed value had to be given to calculate µ.8 Our finding of reduced mass-length ratio with increased diameter suggests that the fibrin fibers could be thicker but less dense in first-degree relatives. However, because µ is a calculated value from a number of measures, and methodological inconsistencies and variation may be reflected in this parameter, any deduction regarding fiber density has to be made cautiously.
Although the mechanism by which elevated fibrinogen translates to a higher incidence of coronary disease is not known, fibrinogen concentration has a profound effect on fibrin clot structure. Fibrin polymerization and protofibril assembly begin as thrombin cleaves fibrinopeptide A from fibrinogen, with a time course in the magnitude of seconds. The rate of fibrinopeptide A cleavage increases with fibrinogen concentration,14 and a faster activation rate is associated with a shorter lag phase and a more dense and tight fibrin network.15 In addition, elevated fibrinogen levels lead to the formation of thicker fibers, as estimated from turbidity studies.16,17 We have shown that fibrin clots from relatives of patients with premature CAD are formed after a shorter lag phase, have greater max Abs, and have lower Ks and µ values than with controls and that these components of clot formation and structure are strongly correlated with plasma fibrinogen levels. However, in a linear regression model, only the difference in max Abs could be fully accounted for by the difference in fibrinogen concentration between the 2 groups. The association between family history of premature CAD and low Ks, low µ, and short lag phase remained independent of adjustment for fibrinogen and other significant correlates. These data suggest that other as yet unidentified genetic or environmental factors may affect fibrin clot structure in families in whom severe CAD occurs prematurely.
FXIII plays an important role in fibrin cross-linking. A Val34Leu polymorphism in the FXIII A-subunit has been associated with thrombotic disease and results in an amino acid substitution in close proximity to the thrombin activation site. In addition, a polymorphism in the A chain of the fibrinogen gene, Thr312Ala, lies between the residues involved in - and -antiplasmin cross-linking. Data from our unit suggest a significant interaction between fibrin clot porosity and turbidity measurements and A Thr312Ala (unpublished data) and Val34Leu genotype.8 In the present study, we did not find such a relationship. It is possible that the profound effect of fibrinogen concentration on clot structure and the wide range of fibrinogen levels would mask associations between a single polymorphism and altered clot structure. Nevertheless, given the independent relationship between relatives of CAD patients and reduced Ks values, genetic factors may well be important in the determination of fibrin clot structure.
A relationship between fibrin clot structure and fibrinolysis has been reported in several studies. The majority of data suggests a link between dense, fine fibrin networks and hypofibrinolysis, either in terms of a strong negative association between PAI-1 activity and Ks13 or a directly measured reduction in lysis rate.18–20 A recent report by Collet et al21 using a dynamic confocal microscopy technique confirmed reduced lysis front velocity in tight, thin fiber meshworks compared with clots of thicker, looser fibers. However, the lysis rates of individual fibers within the clots were also measured, with the finding that thicker fibers were lysed more slowly than thin ones. Such data imply that the changes observed in the present study might increase resistance to fibrinolysis and enhance the thrombogenic potential of the altered fibrin clot structures observed in healthy relatives of patients with CAD. Platelets and other cells interact with fibrin and play an important role in the formation of the blood clot. Cellular interaction has important consequences for the speed at which fibrinolysis proceeds, 22 and the implications of the present findings for the stability of the clot will depend in part on this.
Formation of a fibrin clot is the end point of coagulation. We have shown that the healthy male relatives of patients with severe premature CAD form less porous fibrin clots that contain thicker fiber networks than those of healthy subjects free from a family history of coronary disease. These findings represent a plausible mechanism by which a family history of premature CAD exerts its deleterious effects on an individual’s risk factor profile. Low-dose aspirin has been shown to increase fibrin gel porosity in healthy subjects, 23 and such interventions may be indicated in the relatives of patients with premature CAD, even in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors. At the present time, the implications of these data remain speculative, and prospective studies are required to establish the role of altered fibrin clot structure in the development of clinically apparent CAD.
|
Acknowledgments |
|---|
This study was funded by a British Heart Foundation Junior Research Fellowship (FS/98063).
Received March 22, 2002; revision received July 26, 2002; accepted July 26, 2002.
|
References |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
1. Lane DA, Grant PJ. Role of hemostatic gene polymorphisms in venous and arterial thrombotic disease. Blood. 2000; 95: 1517–1532.
2. Schildkraut JM, Myers RH, Cupples LA, et al. Coronary risk associated with age and sex of parental heart disease in the Framingham Study. Am J Cardiol. 1989; 64: 555–559.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
3. Carter AM, Mansfield MW, Stickland MH, et al. Beta-fibrinogen gene -455 G/A polymorphism and fibrinogen levels: risk factors for coronary artery disease in subjects with NIDDM. Diabetes Care. 1996; 19: 1265–1268.[Abstract]
4. Ariëns RA, Kohler HP, Mansfield MW, et al. Subunit antigen and activity levels of blood coagulation factor XIII in healthy individuals: relation to sex, age, smoking, and hypertension. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1999; 19: 2012–2016.
5. Carter AM, Catto AJ, Grant PJ. Association of the alpha-fibrinogen Thr312Ala polymorphism with poststroke mortality in subjects with atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 1999; 99: 2423–2426.
6. Kohler HP, Stickland MH, Ossei-Gerning N, et al. Association of a common polymorphism in the factor XIII gene with myocardial infarction. Thromb Haemost. 1998; 79: 8–13.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
7. Ariëns RA, Philippou H, Nagaswami C, et al. The factor XIII V34L polymorphism accelerates thrombin activation of factor XIII and affects cross-linked fibrin structure. Blood. 2000; 96: 988–995.
8. Carr ME Jr, Shen LL, Hermans J. Mass-length ratio of fibrin fibers from gel permeation and light scattering. Biopolymers. 1977; 16: 1–15.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
9. Weisel JW, Nagaswami C. Computer modeling of fibrin polymerization kinetics correlated with electron microscope and turbidity observations: clot structure and assembly are kinetically controlled. Biophys J. 1992; 63: 111–128.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
10. Greilich PE, Carr ME, Zekert SL, et al. Quantitative assessment of platelet function and clot structure in patients with severe coronary artery disease. Am J Med Sci. 1994; 307: 15–20.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
11. Jorneskog G, Egberg N, Fagrell B, et al. Altered properties of the fibrin gel structure in patients with IDDM. Diabetologia. 1996; 39: 1519–1523.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
12. Fatah K, Hamsten A, Blomback B, et al. Fibrin gel network characteristics and coronary heart disease: relations to plasma fibrinogen concentration, acute phase protein, serum lipoproteins and coronary atherosclerosis. Thromb Haemost. 1992; 68: 130–135.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
13. Fatah K, Silveira A, Tornvall P, et al. Proneness to formation of tight and rigid fibrin gel structures in men with myocardial infarction at a young age. Thromb Haemost. 1996; 76: 535–540.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
14. Okada M, Blomback B. Factors influencing fibrin gel structure studied by flow measurement. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1983; 408: 233–253.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
15. Blomback B. Fibrinogen structure, activation, polymerization and fibrin gel structure. Thromb Res. 1994; 75: 327–328.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
16. Blomback B, Carlsson K, Hessel B, et al. Native fibrin gel networks observed by 3D microscopy, permeation and turbidity. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1989; 997: 96–110.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
17. Carr ME Jr, Hermans J. Size and density of fibrin fibers from turbidity. Macromolecules. 1978; 11: 46–50.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
18. Gabriel DA, Muga K, Boothroyd EM. The effect of fibrin structure on fibrinolysis. J Biol Chem. 1992; 267: 24259–24263.
19. Collet JP, Soria J, Mirshahi M, et al. Dusart syndrome:a new concept of the relationship between fibrin clot architecture and fibrin clot degradability: hypofibrinolysis related to an abnormal clot structure. Blood. 1993; 82: 2462–2469.
20. Carr ME Jr, Alving BM. Effect of fibrin structure on plasmin-mediated dissolution of plasma clots. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 1995; 6: 567–573.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
21. Collet JP, Park D, Lesty C, et al. Influence of fibrin network conformation and fibrin fiber diameter on fibrinolysis speed: dynamic and structural approaches by confocal microscopy. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2000; 20: 1354–1361.
22. Collet JP, Montalescot G, Lesty C, et al. A structural and dynamic investigation of the facilitating effect of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in dissolving platelet-rich clots. Circ Res. 2002; 90: 428–434.
23. Williams S, Fatah K, Hjemdahl P, et al. Better increase in fibrin gel porosity by low dose than intermediate dose acetylsalicylic acid. Eur Heart J. 1998; 19: 1666–1672.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  R. S. Barua, F. Sy, S. Srikanth, G. Huang, U. Javed, C. Buhari, D. Margosan, and J. A. Ambrose Effects of Cigarette Smoke Exposure on Clot Dynamics and Fibrin Structure: An Ex Vivo Investigation Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, January 1, 2010; 30(1): 75 - 79. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. A. S. Ariens Denser matters Blood, November 5, 2009; 114(19): 3978 - 3979. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Undas, K. Zawilska, M. Ciesla-Dul, A. Lehmann-Kopydlowska, A. Skubiszak, K. Ciepluch, and W. Tracz Altered fibrin clot structure/function in patients with idiopathic venous thromboembolism and in their relatives Blood, November 5, 2009; 114(19): 4272 - 4278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Undas, P. Podolec, K. Zawilska, M. Pieculewicz, I. Jedlinski, E. Stepien, E. Konarska-Kuszewska, P. Weglarz, M. Duszynska, E. Hanschke, et al. Altered Fibrin Clot Structure/Function in Patients With Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke Stroke, April 1, 2009; 40(4): 1499 - 1501. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I. Parastatidis, L. Thomson, A. Burke, I. Chernysh, C. Nagaswami, J. Visser, S. Stamer, D. C. Liebler, G. Koliakos, H. F. G. Heijnen, et al. Fibrinogen {beta}-Chain Tyrosine Nitration Is a Prothrombotic Risk Factor J. Biol. Chem., December 5, 2008; 283(49): 33846 - 33853. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Undas, I. Wiek, E. Stepien, K. Zmudka, and W. Tracz Hyperglycemia Is Associated With Enhanced Thrombin Formation, Platelet Activation, and Fibrin Clot Resistance to Lysis in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Diabetes Care, August 1, 2008; 31(8): 1590 - 1595. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Undas, M. Kolarz, G. Kopec, and W. Tracz Altered fibrin clot properties in patients on long-term haemodialysis: relation to cardiovascular mortality Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., June 1, 2008; 23(6): 2010 - 2015. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. Carter, C. M. Cymbalista, T. D. Spector, P. J. Grant, and on behalf of the EuroCLOT Investigators Heritability of Clot Formation, Morphology, and Lysis: The EuroCLOT Study Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, December 1, 2007; 27(12): 2783 - 2789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Zalewski, A. Undas, J. Godlewski, E. Stepien, and K. Zmudka No-Reflow Phenomenon After Acute Myocardial Infarction Is Associated With Reduced Clot Permeability and Susceptibility to Lysis Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, October 1, 2007; 27(10): 2258 - 2265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. S. Al-Barjas, R. Ariens, P. Grant, and J. A. Scott Raised Plasma Fibrinogen Concentration in Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Angiology, October 1, 2006; 57(5): 607 - 614. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Keavney, J. Danesh, S. Parish, A. Palmer, S. Clark, L. Youngman, M. Delepine, M. Lathrop, R. Peto, R. Collins, et al. Fibrinogen and coronary heart disease: test of causality by 'Mendelian randomization' Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2006; 35(4): 935 - 943. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Undas, J. Brozek, M. Jankowski, Z. Siudak, A. Szczeklik, and H. Jakubowski Plasma Homocysteine Affects Fibrin Clot Permeability and Resistance to Lysis in Human Subjects Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, June 1, 2006; 26(6): 1397 - 1404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. M. Scott, R. A.S. Ariens, and P. J. Grant Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Fibrin Structure and Function: Relevance to Clinical Disease Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, September 1, 2004; 24(9): 1558 - 1566. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. J. Dunn, R. A. Ariens, M. de Lange, H. Snieder, J. H. Turney, T. D. Spector, and P. J. Grant Genetics of fibrin clot structure: a twin study Blood, March 1, 2004; 103(5): 1735 - 1740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.P. Collet, C. Nagaswami, D.H. Farrell, G. Montalescot, and J.W. Weisel Influence of {gamma}' Fibrinogen Splice Variant on Fibrin Physical Properties and Fibrinolysis Rate Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, February 1, 2004; 24(2): 382 - 386. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. V. Cooper, K. F. Standeven, and R. A. S. Ariens Fibrinogen gamma-chain splice variant {gamma}' alters fibrin formation and structure Blood, July 15, 2003; 102(2): 535 - 540. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. F. Standeven, P. J. Grant, A. M. Carter, T. Scheiner, J. W. Weisel, and R. A.S. Ariens Functional Analysis of the Fibrinogen A{alpha} Thr312Ala Polymorphism: Effects on Fibrin Structure and Function Circulation, May 13, 2003; 107(18): 2326 - 2330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||