P-Fibrinogen – Coagulation and Inflammation Marker
P-Fibrinogen is a laboratory test that measures the level of fibrinogen in blood plasma, a protein that is crucial for blood clotting and that increases during inflammation. The test helps evaluate how well the blood can clot and can reveal both bleeding disorders and an increased tendency for blood clots. Fibrinogen also functions as an acute phase reactant, meaning that its level rises when the body reacts to injuries, infections, or other inflammatory conditions. Studies have also shown that elevated fibrinogen levels are an established risk marker for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. By testing P-Fibrinogen, you will receive valuable information about your clotting ability, any inflammation in the body and your cardiovascular risk profile – important insights for your health.
Who can benefit from the test?
This test is useful for both individuals and patients who want to monitor their health or investigate specific symptoms. P-Fibrinogen may be particularly valuable for you who:
- Experience abnormal bleeding or bruising: For example, if you bruise easily, have frequent nosebleeds or have unusually heavy menstrual periods. Such symptoms may indicate a clotting disorder that should be investigated.
- Has prolonged bleeding after injuries or surgeries: If wounds take an abnormally long time to stop bleeding, it may indicate low fibrinogen levels or other problems in the coagulation system.
- Has suffered from repeated blood clots (thrombosis): People who have had recurrent deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or have close relatives with a tendency to thrombosis may want to check fibrinogen as part of the investigation into increased blood clot risk.
- Living with chronic inflammation or autoimmune disease: In conditions such as rheumatism, chronic infection or other inflammatory diseases, fibrinogen is often elevated. A test can confirm whether ongoing inflammation is affecting your fibrinogen levels.
- Have risk factors for cardiovascular disease: Smoking, obesity, high blood fats and high blood pressure are examples of lifestyle factors that can raise fibrinogen levels. If you have one or more of these risk factors, a fibrinogen test can provide additional insight into your heart health beyond traditional cholesterol and blood pressure checks.
Assessment of coagulation, inflammation and cardiovascular health
The P-Fibrinogen test offers a wide range of information that can guide both you and your doctor:
- Blood coagulation: Fibrinogen is necessary to form fibrin, which causes the blood to clot. The test can detect a lack of coagulation ability – low fibrinogen values mean an increased tendency to bleed – or elevated levels that may indicate an increased risk of blood clot formation. This is important in the investigation of bleeding disorders and thrombotic predisposition.
- Inflammation: Since fibrinogen is an acute phase protein, its level increases during inflammation in the body. A high fibrinogen value can serve as an indicator of an ongoing inflammatory process or infection. It helps to provide a comprehensive picture of the body's level of inflammation, even though the test itself does not identify the exact cause of the inflammation.
- Cardiovascular disease: Research shows that chronically elevated fibrinogen levels are linked to an increased risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. Fibrinogen is considered an independent risk marker for cardiovascular disease. By including fibrinogen values in a cardiovascular assessment, you get a more complete picture of your risk profile, which can be valuable in preventing future cardiac events.
