Glutathione peroxidase-1 and homocysteine for cardiovascular risk prediction: results from the AtheroGene study.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective study was designed to evaluate the effect of joint determination of two important contrary biomarkers--homocysteine and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-1--on cardiovascular risk stratification.


BACKGROUND
Homocysteine plasma levels have been associated with cardiovascular risk. Experimental data suggest that antioxidative GPx-1 activity modulates cardiovascular risk associated with homocysteine.


METHODS
In 643 patients with coronary artery disease, we performed a prospective study to assess the risk of homocysteine plasma levels and GPx-1 activity on long-term cardiovascular risk with a median follow-up of 7.1 years.


RESULTS
Both homocysteine and GPx-1 were among the strongest univariate predictors of future cardiovascular risk, even after adjustment for cardiovascular confounders. Homocysteine levels were significantly elevated in individuals with future cardiovascular events (15.4 vs. 13.4 micromol/l; p < 0.0001); GPx-1 activity was lower (45.3 +/- 13.1 vs. 50.2 +/- 11.0 U/g hemoglobin; p < 0.0001). In patients with GPx-1 activity below the median value, homocysteine plasma levels above the median were associated with a 3.2-fold (95% confidence interval 1.8 to 5.6; p < 0.0001) increase in cardiovascular risk, whereas it lost its independent risk prediction in individuals with increased antioxidative capacity, as reflected by high GPx-1 activity. In contrast to single determination, combined assessment revealed a significant increase in the area under the curve of cardiovascular risk predictive models from 0.72, including traditional risk factors to 0.75 and also including homocysteine levels and GPx-1 activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma homocysteine levels and GPx-1 activity are complementary in identifying individuals at high cardiovascular risk. Joint determination of both biomarkers provides substantial information on top of classic risk factors in cardiovascular risk assessment.
Schnabel
Renate
R
Department of Medicine II, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. schnabelr@gmx.de
Lackner
Karl J
KJ
Rupprecht
Hans J
HJ
Espinola-Klein
Christine
C
Torzewski
Michael
M
Lubos
Edith
E
Bickel
Christoph
C
Cambien
François
F
Tiret
Laurence
L
Münzel
Thomas
T
Blankenberg
Stefan
S
D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D000094765:Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000094765:Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1; C000722067:GPX1 protein, human