Fibrinogen
Chapter: 2
An acute phase protein that is part of the coagulation cascade of proteins (see fibrin). The amount of fibrinogen in the plasma can be measured as a nonspecific indicator of whether or not an inflammatory process is present in the body. Elevated fibrinogen levels also contribute to an accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which can be used as another nonspecific indicator of inflammation. The ESR can be used, as the level of fibrinogen can be, to monitor the course of a chronic inflammatory process: decreases suggest improvement, while increases suggest worsening of the process.