Relationship of beta2-microglobulin to arterial stiffness in Japanese subjects.
Beta2-Microglobulin (beta2m) is related to inflammatory diseases, but there have been few reports of a relationship between beta2m and atherosclerosis. We have examined the influence of beta2m on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) to clarify whether it is related to arterial stiffness. baPWV, beta2m, C-reactive protein (CRP), and conventional risk factors were measured in 614 males and 158 females. The adjusted means of baPWV were compared with the quartiles of beta2m, and significant differences in baPWV were observed across the quartiles of beta2m (p = 0.037). After being adjusted for potential confounders, quartile 4 of beta2m, quartile 4 of CRP, and the combination of high beta2m plus high CRP were significantly associated with a high value of PWV (quartile 4 of beta2m: odds ratio [OR] 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.89; quartile 4 of CRP: OR 2.27, 95% CI, 1.18-4.34; high beta2m plus high CRP: OR 5.60, 95% CI, 2.38-13.2). These results suggest that beta2m is associated with an increase of arterial stiffness. Further studies are needed to clarify whether beta2m is related to atherosclerotic diseases, and whether the combination of beta2m and CRP measurement is a useful predictor for the development of atherosclerosis.
Saijo
Yasuaki
Y
Department of Public Health, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. y-saijo@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Utsugi
Megumi
M
Yoshioka
Eiji
E
Horikawa
Naoko
N
Sato
Tetsuro
T
Gong
Yingyan
Y
Kishi
Reiko
R
D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012307:Risk Factors; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein