title: Diminished omega-3 fatty acids are associated with carotid plaques from neurologically symptomatic patients: Implications for carotid interventions.
abstract: The omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are prevalent in fish oil and their cardioprotective effects are thought to be mediated by anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The aim of this study is to determine whether omega-3 fatty acids are associated with carotid plaques from neurologically symptomatic patients. Plaques were obtained from 41 patients (mean age 62 [44-84]; 24-asymptomatic, 17-symptomatic). Intra-plaque lipids were assessed with mass spectrometry. Compared to asymptomatic patients, significantly diminished omega-3 fatty acids DHA (545.8+/-98 ng/g vs. 270.7+/-19.6 ng/g, p=0.0096) and EPA (385.9+/-68 ng/g vs. 216.4+/-17.6 ng/g, p=0.0189) were found in carotid plaques from neurologically symptomatic patients. However, no differences were found in the levels of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (p=0.2003). Immunohistochemistry and ELISA analysis (CD68(+) cells, 0.461+/-0.04 vs. 0.312+/-0.03, p=0.003) demonstrated an increased inflammatory infiltrate in plaques from neurologically symptomatic, compared to asymptomatic, patients. Carotid plaques from neurologically symptomatic patients are inflammatory and have decreased intra-plaque levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Future trials will determine whether interventions that increase omega-3 fatty acid incorporation into carotid plaques prevent stroke and improve the safety of carotid interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1542 Tulane Avenue, Room 733, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States. hbazan@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Hernan A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bazan
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Deepu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thoppil
authors.forename: Tamara N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dardik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule