Hypofibrinogenemia and the α-Fibrinogen Thr312Ala Polymorphism may be Risk Factors for Early Pregnancy Loss

Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2017 Jan;23(1):52-57. doi: 10.1177/1076029615594003. Epub 2015 Jul 1.

Abstract

We analyzed a cohort of 36 females with pregnancy loss. In addition to 11 patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and 2 patients with congenital antithrombin (AT) or protein C deficiency, we identified 5 patients with low fibrinogen levels (median 110 mg/dL) prior to 10 weeks of gestation. Four of these 5 patients underwent a fibrinogen gene analysis, and all 4 were found to be heterozygotes for the α-fibrinogen (FGA) Thr321Ala polymorphism. One female without hypofibrinogenemia with a history of 8 pregnancy losses was found to be homozygous for the same polymorphism, and she also showed hypercoagulability without thrombosis. In conclusion, there was a relatively high frequency of pregnancy loss in the setting of hypofibrinogenemia and/or the FGA Thr312Ala polymorphism, and this may be an important risk factor for pregnancy loss and a hypercoagulable state in later pregnancy.

Keywords: FGA Thr312Ala; abortion; pregnancy; thrombosis.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Habitual / epidemiology
  • Abortion, Habitual / etiology*
  • Abortion, Habitual / genetics
  • Adult
  • Afibrinogenemia / complications*
  • Afibrinogenemia / genetics
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / complications*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Fibrinogen / genetics*
  • Fibrinogen / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Pregnancy
  • Protein C Deficiency / complications
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Fibrinogen