title: Association of high alpha2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein/fetuin concentration in serum and intima-media thickness in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease and low bone mass.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alpha2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein (AHSG; fetuin), a member of the cystatin superfamily of cysteine protease inhibitors involved in vascular pathology and bone metabolism, has been reported to be reduced in patients with atherosclerosis and medial calcification related to end stage renal disease or dialysis. No data on fetuin in patients with peripheral artery disease associated with low bone mass and normal renal function are available in the literature. In the present study we evaluated serum fetuin concentrations, bone mass, and markers of bone turnover in patients with atherosclerosis of peripheral vessels and normal kidney function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety consecutive patients with evidence of atherosclerotic plaques at the common carotid or femoral artery were studied. Severity grade of disease was documented by ultrasound measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT). Fasting serum levels of fetuin were measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean patient serum concentration of fetuin was 57.68+/-13.6 ng/ml, significantly higher than that of control subjects (41.6+/-7.6 ng/ml; p<0.001). The mean serum concentration of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were 8.4+/-2.3 microg/l, significantly lower than controls (13.6+/-1.6 microg/l; p<0.001). Fetuin was correlated with IMT (r=0.8530; p<0.0001) and inversely correlated with BAP (r=-0.5503; p<0.0001). Patients had a vertebral and femoral bone mass significantly lower than controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study documented for the first time that, in patients with atherosclerosis of peripheral vessels, serum fetuin levels were higher than in healthy subjects, and correlated with the severity of disease; further studies are required to analyse the role of AHSG as an independent predictor of atherosclerotic disease and low bone mass in patients with normal renal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Catania O.V.E., Catania, Italy. carmelo.fiore@tin.it
authors.forename: Carmelo E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Celotta
authors.forename: Grazia G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Pino
authors.forename: Zaira
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: Roberto A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mangiafico
authors.forename: Salvatore S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Signorelli
authors.forename: Pietra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pennisi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C556354:AHSG protein, human; D001798:Blood Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins