On the identification of beneficial and detrimental molecular forms of fibrinogen

Fibrinogen is a central protein in blood coagulation. A functioning circula tion system requires a precise balance between fibrin formation and removal , i.e. between the interaction of fibrin(ogen) with thrombogenic and fibrin olytic components of the blood. Fibrinogen and fibrin have also significant roles in wound healing, in tumor growth and metastasis as well as in defen se mechanisms. All functions and interactions are mediated by specific stru ctural elements of the molecule. Already in healthy individuals fibrinogen occurs in over a million nonidentical forms due to posttranslational modifi cations and genetic polymorphism. The various forms may show considerable d ifferences in their functional properties. Alterations in distributions amo ng preexisting forms as well as additional forms have been observed to acco mpany many types of disease. Furthermore, certain forms have been correlate d with an increased risk to acquire disease. Monitoring the levels of vario us molecular forms is expected to be of considerable diagnostic and prognos tic value in many types of disease. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.