title: Skin tissue cholesterol (SkinTc) is related to angiographically-defined cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Parallel changes associated with aging found in the vasculature and skin at necropsy, have prompted small preliminary studies to assess the relation between skin tissue cholesterol (SkinTc) and cardiovascular disease. While these studies have been suggestive, no formal investigation is available to test this association. It would, therefore, be valuable to determine whether a relation between SkinTc and angiographic narrowing actually exists, the latter representing one accepted measurement of coronary atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients at three hospitals undergoing coronary angiography and not on lipid altering agents (n = 649) were examined for skinTc using a non-invasive method. Vessels were evaluated manually (number with stenosis > or = 50%). Clinical characteristics, current medication use, and Framingham global risk score were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SkinTc was significantly higher in patients with angiographic disease (124 +/- 30 vs. 118 +/- 30, P = 0.02). After adjustment for traditional coronary artery disease risk factors, SkinTc provided 7% additional risk (per 10 SkinTc units) for angiographic disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SkinTc, measured with a non-invasive method, is associated with the presence of coronary artery disease as determined by catheterization. Such an assay may eventually help stratify patient risk and target prevention efforts.
authors.affiliation: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Rehabilitation, Section of Preventive Cardiology, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk C51, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. Dennis.L.Sprecher@gsk.com
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sprecher
authors.forename: Shaun G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kannampuzha
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Anatoly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol