title: [Coronary calcifications in a subgroup of post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: U.O. di Cardiologia, Ospedale di Mirandola, Mirandola (MO). ratticarlo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ratti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiurlia
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bursi
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bompani
authors.forename: Emiliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferramosca
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Modena
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol