Fibrinogen
Sample: Citrated plasma
Schedule: Daily
Units: g/L Range Up to 4.5
Remarks: Fibrinogen (Factor I) is produced by the liver and has a plasma half-life of about four days. Conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin occurs through both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. The test is used in the diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation.Also the test is used for the assessment of the effectiveness of thrombolytic therapy. Patients with afibrinogenemia have a bleeding symptoms which often start in early infancy with umbilical cord bleeding, intracerebral hemorrhage or bleeding at surgeries.
About 50% of patients with dysfibrinogenemia are asymptomatic and are often detected when prolonged PT and/or aPTT are detected as a result of routine laboratory testing. Some studies indicate that there is an association between high plasma fibrinogen levels and increased risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease.
