title: Allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atherosclerosis in the Bruneck and ARMY studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several diseases characterized by chronic inflammation and immune activation have been linked to enhanced risk for atherosclerosis. The potential association between allergies and atherosclerosis, however, remains to be defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The association between common allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis and asthma) and 5-year development and progression of carotid atherosclerosis (Bruneck Study) and high intima-media thickness in carotid and femoral arteries (Atherosclerosis Risk Factors in Male Youngsters [ARMY] study) was investigated. The Bruneck Study is a prospective population-based survey of 826 men and women aged 40 to 70 years; the ARMY study is a cross-sectional evaluation of 141 men aged 17 or 18 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with allergic disorders were at a significantly increased risk for high intima-media thickness in the ARMY study (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-5.5; P=.03) and for atherosclerosis development and progression in the Bruneck Study (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-10.2; P=.007). The associations remained significant after multivariate adjustment for a broad array of established and potential vascular risk factors. When IgE levels were substituted for the clinical allergy variable, findings were confirmed in the Bruneck Study (adjusted odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-8.0), for a 1-SD increase in IgE level (P=.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study documents enhanced atherosclerosis among subjects with common allergic diseases. Our findings fit well with the emerging concept that key components of allergies, such as leukotrienes or mast cells, are active in human atherogenesis and further extend the growing list of immune system-mediated and chronic inflammatory disorders that have been linked with enhanced risk for atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. Michael.Knoflach@uibk.ac.at
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knoflach
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiechl
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willeit
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poewe
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography