Preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels predict mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting

This study was designed to investigate whether plasma fibrinogen levels as well as the beta-fibrinogen -455 G/A genotype are associated with outcome after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation. We enrolled 249 consecutive CAD patients one day before they underwent a CABG operation. Data from 220 patients with available plasma fibrinogen levels were analyzed. The primary end-point was total mortality, the secondary end-point mortality from cardiac causes or the need for myocardial revascularization. The 2-year total mortality was 9.1% in the entire cohort. Multivariable analysis revealed an independent relationship between the primary end-point and preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels but not the beta-fibrinogen -455 G/A genotype. Neither preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels nor the beta-fibrinogen -455 G/A genotype could predict the secondary end-point. We conclude, that elevated preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels, but not the beta-fibrinogen -455 G/A genotype predict the total mortality after CABG operation.