The association of plasma fibrinogen with the extent and complexity of coronary lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background: High Syntax score (SXscore) is associated with more serious disease and worse prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Plasma fibrinogen levels are associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Aim: To investigate the relation of admission fibrinogen levels with intermediate-high SXscore in patients with ACS. Methods: A total of 752 patients (61.6 +/- 12.8 years, 67.3% men) with ACS, who underwent urgent coronary angiography (CAG) were enrolled. Laboratory data including fibrinogen and high sensitivity C-reactive protein were obtained before CAG. Syntax scores of all patients were calculated from baseline CAG. The patients were divided into two groups: low SXscore (<= 22) and intermediate-high SXscore (>= 23). Results: Admission fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in the SXscore >= 23 group when compared with the SXscore <= 22 group (median 492 mg/dL, interquartile range 428-581 mg/dL vs. median 370 mg/dL, interquartile range 309-428 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of intermediate-high SXscore were fibrinogen (OR 1.008, 95% CI 1.005-1.010, p < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 0.935, p < 0.001), and age (OR 1.029, p = 0.041). A level of fibrinogen > 417 mg/dL had an 80.0% sensitivity and 71.3% specificity in predicting intermediate-high SXscore. Conclusions: Increased fibrinogen levels are independently associated with intermediate-high SXscore in patients with ACS.