Blood draw
Fibrinogen
Fibrinogen; blood clotting.
€ 17,00
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Clotting · Blood
Fibrinogen
A clotting protein from the liver that also rises with inflammation; mainly used when investigating a bleeding tendency.
At a glance
- Measured in blood
- In 1 test panel
- No special preparation
Explanation
Fibrinogen: what is measured?
Fibrinogen is a protein that the liver makes and that is needed for blood clotting. When there is a wound, the body converts fibrinogen into fibrin: threads that, together with platelets, form a clot and stop the bleeding. Fibrinogen is also an acute-phase protein: with inflammation, infection, surgery or injury, the liver temporarily makes more of it. The value therefore says something about clotting and something about inflammation.
What can it detect?
- A shortage of fibrinogen with a bleeding tendency, severe liver disease or severe consumption of clotting factors
- Inflammation or tissue damage, as an acute-phase protein
- Rarely: a hereditary disorder in the production or function of fibrinogen
Result
What does the result mean?
Fibrinogen too high
According to the Dutch Society for Clinical Chemistry (NVKC), a raised fibrinogen usually fits an inflammation, infection, injury or surgery in the preceding weeks; the value returns to normal once that has passed. Smoking, overweight, pregnancy, the contraceptive pill and older age also go with a higher value. In research, a higher fibrinogen is linked to a slightly higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but that does not mean that a high value will lead to a heart attack or thrombosis in you. A raised value does not cause symptoms by itself.
Fibrinogen too low
According to the Dutch Society for Clinical Chemistry (NVKC), a low fibrinogen means there is less of this clotting factor, so blood cannot clot as well. Causes are severe liver disease, major blood loss, clot-dissolving medicines and a severe derailment of clotting in very ill people. Rarely, there is a hereditary deficiency. Symptoms that may go with it are bruising easily, prolonged bleeding after a small wound or dental treatment and heavy blood loss during periods. A slightly low value without symptoms usually has no consequences.
After an abnormal result
With a raised fibrinogen without symptoms, usually no separate testing follows; the GP can repeat the measurement once a recent infection or inflammation has passed, possibly together with CRP. With a low fibrinogen or a bleeding tendency, additional clotting tests follow and, if needed, a referral to the internist-hematologist.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
As a measure of the risk of cardiovascular disease, fibrinogen adds little to age, sex, smoking, blood pressure and cholesterol; the Dutch medical specialists' guideline (FMS) on cardiovascular risk management names fibrinogen as an inflammation marker with little added value for the risk estimate. Because fibrinogen rises with any inflammation, a single raised value says little about the cause. When investigating a bleeding tendency, fibrinogen is assessed together with other clotting tests.
What can affect the result?
- An infection, inflammation, surgery or injury in the weeks before the blood draw temporarily raises the value.
- Smoking, pregnancy, the contraceptive pill and hormone treatment raise fibrinogen.
- A difficult blood draw or a tube that is not properly filled can disturb the result; clotting tests are sensitive to how the sample is collected.
- Clot-dissolving medicines lower the value.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
Useful with a bleeding tendency, such as bruising easily or prolonged bleeding, usually together with other clotting tests, and with severe liver disease. In healthy adults a single value says little, and for estimating the risk of cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and glucose are more important. As a measure of inflammation, CRP is more common.
How common is it?
There are no Dutch figures on how often an abnormal fibrinogen occurs. A temporarily raised value due to inflammation or infection is common. A hereditary shortage of fibrinogen is very rare.
NVKC, allesovertesten.nl; no Dutch registration figure available
Drawbacks and risks
- A raised fibrinogen can cause needless worry about cardiovascular disease or thrombosis, while the value says little about that question.
- A temporarily raised value due to a recent infection can lead to unnecessary follow-up testing.
Get tested
Fibrinogen: test panels
Fibrinogen is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
More about risks and resultsMore explanations