Comparison of biochemical, functional and structural aspects of arterial wall properties in elderly men.
OBJECTIVE
A variety of methods are available to assess arterial wall properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between some of the biochemical, functional and structural measurements of arterial wall characteristics.


METHODS
The study comprised 563 elderly men at high risk of coronary heart disease. Circulating levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (tPAag) were compared with pulse wave velocity (PWV) measured by finger photoplethysmography and intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque score of the common carotid artery.


RESULTS
Levels of ICAM-1 were significantly correlated with plaque score (r = 0.17, p<0.001). Levels of vWF were significantly correlated with plaque score (r = 0.11, p = 0.009) and PWV (r = 0.12, p = 0.007), and levels of tPAag were significantly correlated with PWV (r = 0.16, p<0.001). These associations, although generally weak, remained statistically significant after adjustment for relevant cardiovascular risk factors. PWV did not correlate significantly with IMT or plaque score.


CONCLUSIONS
The limited intercorrelation between biochemical, functional and structural measurements of arterial wall properties observed in the present population indicate that the various methods reflect different aspects of the atherosclerotic process.
Trøseid
M
M
Center for Clinical Research, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. troseid@hotmail.com
Hjerkinn
E M
EM
Seljeflot
I
I
Klemsdal
T O
TO
Bergengen
L
L
Breivik
L
L
Arnesen
H
H
D000368:Aged; D050379:Arteriolosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D011674:Pulse; D012306:Risk; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator