Alterations in biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in active acromegaly.
OBJECTIVE
In acromegalic patients, cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities contribute to enhance mortality. Available data on the lipoprotein profile of these patients are controversial. Our aim was to characterize the lipoprotein profile and emergent biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in active acromegalic patients in comparison with sex- and age-matched healthy controls.


METHODS
Eighteen patients with active acromegaly and 18 controls were studied.


METHODS
Glucose levels, hormonal status, lipoprotein profile and C reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated by standardized methods. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2 )(Lp-PLA(2)) were measured by radiometric techniques, endothelin-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and leucocytes CD18, CD49d and CD54 by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
After adjusting for body mass index (BMI), acromegalic patients presented a more atherogenic lipoprotein profile, consisting of higher levels of triglycerides and apolipoprotein B and alterations in the ratios which estimate insulin resistance and atherogenic risk. CETP activity was significantly increased in acromegalic patients as compared to controls (168 +/- 17 vs. 141 +/- 30% per ml h, respectively; P < 0.05). Endothelin-1 levels evidenced an increase in the patients' group (0.9 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.2 ng/l, respectively; P < 0.01) and showed positive and significant correlations with GH, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 (r = 0.45, 0.42 and 0.44, respectively; P < 0.01 for all of them; with BMI as a fixed variable). Lymphocytes from acromegalic patients showed increased CD49d content (282 +/- 59 vs. 246 +/- 48 arbitrary units, respectively; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, the alterations described seem to contribute to constituting a state of higher propensity for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which adds to the presence of specific cardiomyopathy.
Boero
L
L
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. lauraboero@fibertel.com.ar
Manavela
M
M
Gómez Rosso
L
L
Insua
C
C
Berardi
V
V
Fornari
M C
MC
Brites
F
F
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood; D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039441:Integrin alpha4 / Q000097:blood; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D019332:Endothelin-1; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D039441:Integrin alpha4; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase