PLASMA-CONCENTRATIONS OF FIBRINOGEN AND FACTOR-VII IN ADULT LIFE AND THEIR RELATION TO INTRAUTERINE GROWTH

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.