Circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein is associated with echolucent plaques in the femoral artery independently of hsCRP in 61-year-old men.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that circulating markers of inflammation (high-sensitive C-reactive protein, hsCRP) and oxidative modification of lipids (oxidized low-density lipoprotein, oxLDL) were associated with the occurrence of echolucent rather than echogenic femoral artery plaques in a cross-sectional population based cohort of 513, 61-year-old men.


BACKGROUND
The relationships between circulating oxLDL, hsCRP and the occurrence of echolucent plaques in the femoral artery have not previously been investigated.


METHODS
The levels of circulating oxLDL and hsCRP were determined in plasma by ELISA. Plaque occurrence, size and echogenicity were measured by B-mode ultrasound in the right femoral artery. Assessment of plaque echogenicity was based on the classification (grades 1-4) proposed by Gray-Weale et al.


RESULTS
A higher frequency of echolucent femoral plaques was observed in subjects with the metabolic syndrome and current smokers (p=0.01 and p<0.001, respectively) as well as with increasing levels of oxLDL and hsCRP (p=0.002 and p=0.005, respectively). In a multiple logistic regression analysis oxLDL and current smokers turned out to be independent associated with the presence of echolucent femoral artery plaques.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study support our hypothesis that circulating oxLDL is a marker of an unstable echolucent plaque phenotype in the femoral artery in man.
The Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular Research, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, S-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden. vilborg@wlab.gu.se
Vilborg
V
Sigurdardottir
Björn
B
Fagerberg
John
J
Wikstrand
Caroline
C
Schmidt
Johannes
J
Hulthe
D001167:Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein