Fibrinogen is a special protein in the blood serum that is involved in the coagulation process. If necessary (any bleeding), it breaks up into separate threads (this happens under the influence of another protein - fibrin). With these threads, blood coagulates and bleeding stops. Decreased or increased fibrinogen may indicate some kind of abnormality. Its norm in the blood varies from 2 to 4 g / l. In some physiological processes, the norm of this indicator may increase. So, for example, fibrinogen is increased during pregnancy to 6 g / l.
What else can increased fibrinogen indicate? A sharp increase in this indicator in the blood may indicate the following pathological conditions:
- pneumonia
- myocardial infarction;
- a stroke;
- various oncological diseases;
- acute infections and inflammatory processes;
- hypothyroidism;
- amyloidosis.
In any case, the doctor will determine the exact cause of the increase in fibrinogen in the blood. To clarify the diagnosis, some more examinations will be needed. Also, increased fibrinogen can be observed after recent injuries, burns, surgical interventions and as a result of taking certain drugs. For example, this indicator increases with estrogen intake.
Increased fibrinogen
during pregnancy is the norm. Pregnancy is a physiological process during which the whole body of a woman is rebuilt, thereby preparing her for the upcoming birth. An increase in fibrinogen in this case occurs gradually. In the first two trimesters of pregnancy, the amount of fibrinogen should not exceed 4 g / l. The maximum increase in this indicator occurs already at the end of the third trimester, almost before childbirth. If fibrinogen in the blood is increased precisely during this period, then this is the norm. In other cases, another reason must be sought. This may be some kind of infectious disease or acute inflammatory process, and it may also indicate the process of tissue death has begun. In these cases, you should immediately consult a doctor. Such situations can have very dire consequences for both the expectant mother and the unborn child. Most likely, such a pregnant woman will be offered hospitalization, and she will already go through all the further examinations in the hospital, since being at home can jeopardize the life of the baby and the future mother. A sharp decrease in this indicator may also indicate pathology.
It could mean:
- insufficient amounts of vitamin B12 or C;
- DIC;
- severe toxicosis in late pregnancy.
Norms of fibrinogen in the blood:
Newborns | 1.25-3 g / l |
Adults | 2-4 g / l |
Pregnancy 3rd trimester | up to 6 g / l |
Blood for fibrinogen is donated from a vein in the morning on an empty stomach, in extreme cases, from the time of eating until this test is passed, you must withstand at least two hours. Blood is taken in a specially treated tube with the addition of reagent. After that, it is carefully inverted several times to better mix the reagent with blood. Only in this case can a reliable analysis be obtained, and it must be done no later than two hours after the blood donation.