title: Relation of coronary artery calcium to flow-mediated dilation and C-reactive protein levels in asymptomatic patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: The extent of coronary artery calcium (CAC) is correlated with coronary artery disease prognosis. However, the relation of CAC to endothelial function and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with asymptomatic heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) requires clarification. The study aim was to investigate the relations among CAC, endothelial function, and hs-CRP in patients with asymptomatic heterozygous FH. Thirty-two patients with asymptomatic heterozygous FH (mean age 42 years) and 34 healthy control subjects (mean age 36 years) were enrolled. We measured CAC by electron-beam computed tomography and endothelial function by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery. A higher percentage of patients with FH had a positive CAC score compared with the control group. Comparing the FH group with detectable CAC (CAC score >0) and undetectable CAC (CAC score of 0), we found higher hs-CRP levels (0.29 +/- 0.23 vs 0.07 +/- 0.08 mg/dl, p = 0.001) and reduced flow-mediated dilation (0.04 +/- 0.03 vs 0.08 +/- 0.03, p = 0.005) in the detectable CAC group. Multivariate analysis showed an independent correlation of hs-CRP with detectable CAC (relative risk 5.034, 95% confidence interval 1.525 to 16.613, p = 0.04). In conclusion, FH subjects with positive CAC scores have decreased flow-mediated dilation and increased hs-CRP levels. Furthermore, hs-CRP level is the only independent predictor of the presence of CAC.
authors: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors: Zhong-Xuan
authors: ZX
authors: Ye
authors: Hao-Ming
authors: HM
authors: Cheng
authors: Kuan-Rau
authors: KR
authors: Chiou
authors: Po-Hsun
authors: PH
authors: Huang
authors: Shing-Jong
authors: SJ
authors: Lin
authors: Min-Ji
authors: MJ
authors: Charng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002118:Calcium