Altered fibrin clot structure and function in the healthy first-degree relatives of subjects with intermittent claudication

This study furthers our understanding of the pathophysiology of peripheral arterial disease, and is supported by our previous work on abnormalities in fibrin clot structure in the formation and progression of coronary artery disease. The study highlights the possible contribution of familial factors through transmission of an abnormal clot structure to the development of symptomatic cardiovascular disease. Most importantly, this work identifies the apparently healthy FDR group of the population as potentially at high cardiovascular risk and raises the question regarding the need for primary prevention in this group.