Fibrinogen Polymorphisms and Atherothrombotic Disease

: Common polymorphisms of the fibrinogen gene cluster are associated with circulating fibrinogen level and with susceptibility to and/or severity of atherothrombotic disease. The frequencies of the polymorphisms vary among different ethnic groups but there is strong linkage disequilibrium at the β‐fibrinogen gene locus so that, in caucasian populations, there are only four common β‐fibrinogen haplotypes. One of these haplotypes, defined by the β‐fibrinogen −455A allele, is associated with elevated fibrinogen level and increased risk of atherothrombotic disease. The molecular mechanism of these associations is currently under investigation.