TY - JOUR T1 - Fibrinogen, Lipoprotein (a), Albumin and Bilirubin (F-L-A-B) Levels and Cardiovascular Risk Calculated Using the Framingham Equation JF - In Vivo JO - In Vivo SP - 685 LP - 694 VL - 21 IS - 4 AU - EMMANUEL S. GANOTAKIS AU - GEORGE E. VRENTZOS AU - IRENE F. GAZI AU - JOHN A. PAPADAKIS AU - I. ANITA JAGROOP AU - KOSMAS I. PARASKEVAS AU - DEVAKI R. NAIR AU - DIMITRI P. MIKHAILIDIS Y1 - 2007/07/01 UR - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/21/4/685.abstract N2 - Objectives: To determine the correlation between cardiovascular risk calculated using the Framingham equation and the circulating levels of 4 ‘emerging’ predictors of vascular events: fibrinogen (Fib), lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), albumin (Alb) and bilirubin (Bil) (F-L-A-B). Patients and Methods: A retrospective survey was carried out using patients referred to a specialist university-based clinic. A total of 376 patients with primary dyslipidaemia (209 men), without overt vascular disease, had their cardiovascular risk estimated using the Framingham equation. Results: Among the men, smokers (n=45) were significantly younger (p=0.014) than non-smokers (n=164). Smokers when compared with non-smokers had significantly higher median Fib levels (3.84 (1.15-5.87) vs. 3.08 (1.44-5.47) g/l; p<0.0001) and lower median Bil levels (8 (3-17) vs. 10 (1-28) μmol/l; p=0.016). When non-smoker men without clinically evident vascular disease were considered, there was a significant positive Fib and negative Alb correlation with calculated risk, whether the family history was considered or not. Moreover in smokers, the only significant correlation was a negative one between Bil and cardiovascular disease risk. Lp(a) correlated with risk for stroke in women non-smokers whether the family history was considered or not, while Alb correlated with risk for stroke in women non-smokers without family history. Conclusion: Fib, Lp(a), Alb and Bil (F-L-A-B) may be predictors of vascular events in high-risk populations. Prospective studies should evaluate whether the F-L-A-B markers are useful in the assessment of cardiovascular risk load. Such an advantage would make treatment more cost effective by improving patient targeting. The F-L-A-B markers could eventually become targets for new drugs. Copyright © 2007 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved ER -