Cn. Martyn et al., PLASMA-CONCENTRATIONS OF FIBRINOGEN AND FACTOR-VII IN ADULT LIFE AND THEIR RELATION TO INTRAUTERINE GROWTH, British Journal of Haematology, 89(1), 1995, pp. 142-146
To examine the relation between fetal development and plasma concentra
tions of fibrinogen and factor VII in adult life we followed up 202 me
n and women, now aged around 50 years, who had been measured in detail
at birth. Plasma concentrations of fibrinogen were related to weight
and abdominal circumference at birth. In men, after adjustment for cig
arette smoking and current obesity, plasma concentrations of fibrinoge
n fell by 0.12 g/l (95% CI 0.05-0.19) for each pound increase in birth
weight and by 0.10 g/l (95% CI 0.03-0.17) for each inch increase in ab
dominal circumference. In contrast, analysis of the data for women sho
wed no statistically significant relation between plasma fibrinogen co
ncentration and weight or abdominal circumference at birth. No relatio
n was seen between concentrations of factor VII and measurements made
at birth in either sex. These findings suggest that, in men, reduced g
rowth of the liver in fetal life has a long-term influence on fibrinog
en metabolism.