Fibrinogenemia, determined immunonephelometrically, as a possible parameter in the evaluation of peripheral arteriosclerotic arteriopathy

The concentration of plasma fibrinogen increases with age and is particularly elevated in subjects with vascular changes due to atherosclerosis. Fibrinogen, which is the meeting point of the "cascade" of the coagulation factors and an important regulating factor of plasma viscosity, occupies a key position in atherosclerotic vascular pathology. This indicates the necessity to keep its value within normal limits, to avoid the clinical development of the disease or improve its evolution. Thus, frequent checks of the fibrinogenemia are necessary at various ages even if this means a big organizational burden. However, this checking can be facilitated by using automatic techniques, such as the immunonephelometric method, with which it is possible to carry out a large number of determinations in a short time.