title: Serum hsCRP and visfatin are elevated and correlate to carotid arterial stiffness in spinal cord-injured subjects.
abstract: METHODS
  Cross-sectional comparison, control group.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between carotid arterial stiffness and circulating markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in spinal cord-injured (SCI) subjects compared with able-bodied (AB) individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Research Laboratory, University of Louisville.
  
  
  METHODS
  SCI (n=14) and AB (n=13) subjects between 20-52 years of age were recruited to participate in the study. B-mode Doppler ultrasound was used to obtain carotid artery diameter measurements. Arterial stiffness was assessed via the stiffness index and distensibility coefficient. Markers of CVD risk were obtained by fasting blood draw.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carotid arterial stiffness index (P=0.061) and distensibility coefficient (P=0.370) were not different between the SCI and AB groups. The SCI group had higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (P=0.046), triglycerides (P=0.017), leptin (P=0.040) and visfatin (P<0.001) compared with the control group. Visfatin (r=0.559, P=0.047), hsCRP (r=0.633, P=0.037), insulin (r=0.637, P=0.019) and HOMA (r=0.614, P=0.026) significantly correlated with carotid arterial stiffness index in the SCI group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that SCI subjects are at a high cardiovascular risk as indicated by elevated hsCRP levels. Elevations in hsCRP and visfatin may contribute to accelerated atherogenic processes in the SCI population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: La Favor
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mokshagundam
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Olive
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human