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The association between birth weight and plasma fibrinogen is abolished after the elimination of genetic influences
Author(s) -
Ijzerman R. G.,
Stehouwer C. D. A.,
De Geus E. J.,
Kluft C.,
Boomsma D. I.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.947
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 1538-7836
pISSN - 1538-7933
DOI - 10.1046/j.1538-7836.2003.00002.x
Subject(s) - fibrinogen , dizygotic twins , birth weight , low birth weight , monozygotic twin , twin study , endocrinology , medicine , heritability , obstetrics , biology , pregnancy , genetics
Summary. Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of atherothrombosis, which may be related in part to the association between low birth weight and high plasma fibrinogen. The association between birth weight and fibrinogen may be explained by intrauterine, socio‐economic or genetic factors. We examined birth weight and fibrinogen in 52 dizygotic and 56 adolescent monozygotic (genetically identical) twin pairs. The dizygotic but not the monozygotic twins with the lowest birth weight from each pair had a fibrinogen level that was higher compared with their co‐twins with the highest birth weight [dizygotic twins: 2.62 ± 0.46 g L −1 vs. 2.50 ± 0.41 g L −1 ( P = 0.04); monozygotic twins: 2.42 ± 0.45 g L −1 vs. 2.49 ± 0.39 g L −1 ( P = 0.2)]. These findings suggest that the association between birth weight and plasma fibrinogen is abolished after the elimination of genetic influences and therefore that this association has genetic causes. Improvement of intrauterine nutrition may not lower fibrinogen levels in later life.