Fibrinogen is a glycoprotein complex that is produced in the liver, that circulates in the blood of all vertebrates.
During a tissue and vascular injury, it is then converted enzymatically by thrombin to fibrin and then to a fibrin-based blood clot.
Fibrin clots function primarily to occlude blood vessels to stop bleeding.
The major physiological function of the fibrinogen is the formation of fibrin which binds together platelets and some plasma proteins in a hemostatic plug.
And in pathological situations, the network entraps large numbers of erythrocytes and leukocytes forming a thrombus that may occlude a blood vessel.
Low fibrinogen may make it difficult for your blood to clot.
If you have symptoms of excessive bleeding, your doctor may order this test to check your fibrinogen levels.
Another name for a fibrinogen test is a factor I activity test.
A normal value for fibrinogen is between 200 and 400 mg/dL.
Having a fibrinogen value of less than 50 mg/dL may mean you're in danger of bleeding after surgery.
And having a fibrinogen value of more than 700 mg/dL may mean you're in danger of forming clots that could harm your heart or brain.
Both fibrinogen and C-reactive protein are considered inflammatory markers.
Fibrinogen also has important hemostatic properties.