title: Measurement of plasma ox-LDL and carotid IMT may represent useful markers for atherosclerosis and may represent potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
abstract: Oxidation of LDL plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Increased wall thickness precedes plaque formation and noninvasive B-mode ultrasonographic measurement of IMT is considered a useful marker of the development of the carotid atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was designed to assess the association of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in hypertensive patients. Oxidized LDL (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Elisa) and carotid IMT (high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography) were assessed in 74 patients, aged between 45 and 65 years, diagnosticated with arterial hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed significantly higher plasma levels of total cholesterol (236.32 +/- 41.96 mg/dl), LDL cholesterol (166.92 +/- 38.55 mg/dl), triglycerides (180.79 +/- 72.05 mg/dl) and low plasma levels of HDL-cholesterol (33.24 +/- 7.99 mg/dl) in all patients. We noticed higher plasma levels of ox-LDL (77.34 +/- 24.78 mg/dl) and carotid IMT was increased (1.41 +/- 0.31 mm). The statistically analysis done using Pearson's test and Student's t - test indicated that there were correlations of ox-LDL with: IMT (p < 0.05, r = 0.408), total cholesterol (p < 0.05, r = 0.498), LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05, r = 0.527), triglycerides (p < 0.05, r = 0.385) and HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05, r = -0.442).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher plasma levels of ox-LDL were associated with increased carotid IMT in hypertensive patients. Measurement of plasma Ox-LDL and carotid IMT may represent useful markers for atherosclerosis and may represent potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology Department, School of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy V. Babeş Timişoara.
authors.forename: Germaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Savoiu
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drăgan
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cristescu
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serban
authors.forename: Lavinia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noveanus
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ionescu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nicola
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Duicu
authors.forename: Andreea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raducan
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voicu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein