Relationships of soluble E-selectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein with carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese men.
OBJECTIVE
E-selectin and C-reactive protein have been linked with carotid atherosclerosis; however, the findings on this association have been inconsistent.


RESULTS
We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the associations of soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and high-sensitivity-CRP (hs-CRP) levels with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in 505 Japanese men aged 60-74 years. Maximum IMT of common (CCA) and internal carotid arteries (ICA) was positively associated with sE-selectin levels after adjustment for age, hs-CRP and other cardiovascular risk factors: means of maximum CCA IMT were 1.12, 1.21 and 1.27 mm for the lowest to highest tertiles of sE-selectin, respectively, p=0.04, and those of ICA IMT were 1.73, 2.09 and 2.09 mm, respectively, p=0.009. Maximum IMT of CCA tended to be positively associated hs-CRP levels after adjustment for age, sE-selectin and other cardiovascular risk factors: means of maximum CCA IMT were 1.10, 1.25, and 1.26 mm, for the lowest to highest tertiles of hs-CRP, respectively, p=0.06. Compared with subjects with the lowest tertiles of sE-selectin and hs-CRP, those with the highest tertiles had a higher prevalence of heterogeneous plaque: multivariable odds ratios were 2.2 (1.03.7), p=0.002 and 1.6 (1.02.7), p=0.046, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum levels of sE-selectin and hs-CRP could be biomarkers for atherosclerosis in general populations.
Sakurai
Susumu
S
Department of Public Health, Doctoral Program in Social Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Ehime, Japan.
Kitamura
Akihiko
A
Cui
Renzhe
R
Yamagishi
Kazumasa
K
Tanigawa
Takeshi
T
Iso
Hiroyasu
H
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio
D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein