title: Iron stores are associated with asymptomatic atherosclerosis in healthy men of primary prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of our study was to assess the impact of increased iron stores on the presence of asymptomatic atherosclerosis in a cohort of healthy men. We anticipated that higher iron stores would be associated with higher soluble cluster of differentiation 163 (sCD163) concentrations, elevated markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and higher common carotid intima-media thickness, independently of traditional risk factors of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study that included 72 healthy men, we measured the ultrasonography of common carotid intima-media thickness (IACC), the ratio of plasma-circulating transferrin receptors concentration to plasma ferritin concentration, certain inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, insulin sensitivity, plasma lipids and markers of endothelial dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma-circulating transferrin receptor concentration to plasma ferritin concentration ratio (TfR/F) showed significant association with IACC (r=-0·310, P=0·008 vs. r=0·295, P=0·012). Multivariate analysis confirmed that the correlation of TfR/F with IACC is independent of traditional risk factors of atherosclerosis. The TfR/F ratio correlated with other indicators of atherosclerotic process fibrinogen (r=-0·292, P=0·013), von Willebrand factor (vWf; r=0·284, P=0·017), sCD163 (r=0·239, P=0·043) and IL-8 (r=0·233, P=0·049). In multivariate analysis, TfR/F independently correlated with haemoglobin (β=-0·220, P=0·047), fibrinogen (β=-0·290, P=0·009), IL-8 (β=0·227, P=0·039) and sCD163 (β=0·244, P=0·025); however, when vWf was added, significant independent correlation was seen only with fibrinogen (β=-0·301, P=0·007) and IL-8 (β=0·219, P=0·047). In addition, we demonstrated the independent correlation of sCD163 with vWf (β=0·240, P=0·040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed a clear association of body iron stores expressed by the TfR/F ratio with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis. TfR/F further exhibited an independent positive correlation with fibrinogen and a negative correlation with sCD163 and IL-8.
authors.affiliation: Cardiocentre, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1958 ⁄ 9, Prague 4, CZ-140 21, Czech Republic. petr.syrovatka@seznam.cz
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Syrovatka
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kraml
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hulikova
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fialova
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vejrazka
authors.forename: Jirina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crkovska
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potockova
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016209:Interleukin-8; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D005340:Fibrinogen; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron