Relationship between reactive oxygen metabolites and carotid intima-media thickness in subjects with hypercholesterolemia.
OBJECTIVE
It was the aim of this study to investigate whether there is any relationship between oxidative stress, as assessed by the diacron reactive oxygen metabolite (d-ROM) test, and carotid atherosclerosis among hypercholesterolemic patients.


METHODS
A well-defined group of patients with type II hypercholesterolemia (n = 81, mean age 59 years) was studied to observe the correlation between the levels of serum d-ROMs and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) using B-mode ultrasound, in relation to the traditional atherosclerotic risk factors (age, sex, smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, glucose and lipid panels).


RESULTS
The mean level in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in this population was 4.45 mmol/l, d-ROMs were 323.2 Carr U, and IMT was 0.91 mm. A multiple regression analysis revealed a positive and significant correlation between IMT and d-ROMs (β = 0.27, p < 0.05), along with age and LDL-C.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the increased oxidative stress levels using the d-ROM test, independent of aging and increased LDL-C levels, may be associated with carotid atherosclerosis even in hypercholesterolemic patients.
Kotani
Kazuhiko
K
Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan. kazukotani@jichi.ac.jp
Koibuchi
Harumi
H
Miyamoto
Michiaki
M
Yamada
Toshiyuki
T
Taniguchi
Nobuyuki
N
D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species