Causes of Elevated Fibrinogen Levels

Primary Causes of Elevated Fibrinogen

Fibrinogen functions as an acute phase reactant protein that increases during inflammatory processes 1
C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen often rise together during inflammatory responses 3
Elevated fibrinogen is a significant independent risk marker in acute coronary syndromes 1
Increased fibrinogen levels are associated with both short-term and long-term risk of death and subsequent myocardial infarction 1
Fibrinogen-mediated erythrocyte aggregation contributes to spontaneous echo contrast in atrial fibrillation, indicating stasis and increased thrombotic risk 4
Persistent and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation are associated with increased systemic fibrinogen levels, indicating active intravascular thrombogenesis 4
Elevated fibrinogen is associated with reduced fibrinolytic capacity, increasing risk of thrombotic events 1

Critical fibrinogen levels (<1.5 g/L) are reached in many massively injured trauma patients and predict in-hospital mortality 5
Fibrinogen levels are monitored as part of goal-directed resuscitation strategies in trauma patients 5

In the FRISC trial, elevated fibrinogen was associated with both short and long-term risk of death and subsequent myocardial infarction 1

Goal-directed strategies using standard laboratory coagulation values, including fibrinogen, are recommended for managing bleeding in trauma patients 5