title: Association between beta2-glycoprotein I plasma levels and the risk of myocardial infarction in older men.
abstract: von Willebrand factor (VWF) serves as adhesive surface for platelets to adhere to the vessel wall. We have recently found that beta2-glycoprotein I is able to inhibit platelet binding to VWF, indicating a role in the pathophysiology of arterial thrombosis. In the present study, we investigated whether differences in beta2-glycoprotein I plasma levels influence the risk of myocardial infarction. We have measured beta2-glycoprotein I and VWF antigen levels in 539 men with a first myocardial infarction and in 611 control subjects. Although we did not find a profound effect of beta2-glycoprotein I plasma levels on myocardial infarction in the overall population, we found a dose-dependent protective effect of increasing beta2-glycoprotein I plasma levels on myocardial infarction in men 60 years and older. In this age group, we found an odds ratio of 0.41 (95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.74) for high beta2-glycoprotein I levels compared with low levels. High plasma levels of beta2-glycoprotein I remained protective for myocardial infarction despite high levels of VWF. To conclude, high circulating levels of beta2-glycoprotein I appeared to be associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction in elderly men. In vivo experiments are needed to investigate the exact contribution of beta2-glycoprotein I on the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plasma Proteins, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.delaat@sanquin.nl
authors.forename: Bas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Laat
authors.forename: Philip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Ronald H W M
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Derksen
authors.forename: Rolf T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Urbanus
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: Frits R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Rosendaal
authors.forename: Carine J M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Doggen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I / Q000097:blood*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I; D014841:von Willebrand Factor