title: Soluble CD40L and cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic low-grade carotid stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether soluble CD40L (sCD40L) may predict the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with asymptomatic carotid plaques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients with asymptomatic low-grade carotid stenosis (ALCS) and 21 controls without any carotid stenosis were enrolled. All subjects had at least a major cardiovascular risk factor (CRF). Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, and sCD40L were measured. Subjects were reviewed every 12 months (median follow-up, 8 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  ALCS patients had higher (P<0.0001) CRP, IL-6, and sCD40L than controls. Fourteen patients experienced a CV event. Cox regression analysis showed that only high sCD40L levels (P=0.003) independently predicted cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of sCD40L may predict the risk of CV events in ALCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Emerging Pathologies, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basili
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tantillo
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falco
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Davì
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.forename: Egle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davì
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012306:Risk; D012995:Solubility; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002097:C-Reactive Protein