[Coronary calcifications in a subgroup of post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the burden of coronary calcifications in a subgroup of post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome (MS) in agreement with the National Cholesterol Educational Program-Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (NCEP-ATP III) definition.


METHODS
We studied 81 women (43 control subjects and 38 women with MS) in agreement with the NCEP-ATP III definition undergoing multislice computed tomography for evaluation of coronary calcifications. The patients were similar for Framingham risk score.


RESULTS
The severity and extent of coronary artery calcifications were higher in individuals with MS (10.8 +/- 15.8 vs 3.02 +/- 5.6; p = 0.006). In all patients total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins and triglycerides were correlated with calcium score (p < 0.05) while high-density lipoproteins were inversely correlated with coronary calcifications. In women with MS total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were correlated with calcium score.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with MS have a higher burden of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. The correlation between MS and calcium score concerned more the presence rather than the severity of coronary calcifications. Moreover, no correlation was observed among single components of MS in agreement with the NCEP-ATP III definition.
Ratti
Carlo
C
U.O. di Cardiologia, Ospedale di Mirandola, Mirandola (MO). ratticarlo@hotmail.com
Grassi
Laura
L
Chiurlia
Emilio
E
Bursi
Francesca
F
Bompani
Bruno
B
Ferramosca
Emiliana
E
Modena
Maria Grazia
MG
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol