Fibrinogen genes modify the fibrinogen response to ambient particulate matter.

Rationale: Ambient particulate matter has been associated with systemic inflammation indicated by blood markers such as fibrinogen, implicated in promoting atherothrombosis.

Objectives: This study evaluated whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the fibrinogen genes modified the relationship between ambient particles and plasma fibrinogen.

Methods: In 854 myocardial infarction survivors from five European cities plasma fibrinogen levels were determined repeatedly (n = 5,082).

[Risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Many personal and environmental risk factors are associated to increased prevalence and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this review, we shortly describe most of these risk factors, aiming at defining each factor as causative or modifier of the natural history of the disease. It is clear that the environmental risk factors do have an outstanding relevance for both the initiation and the evolution of COPD.