title: Serum myeloperoxidase is independent of the risk factors of atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main hypothesis of the study was that as serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentration is known to indicate the progression of the atherosclerotic process, MPO may be associated with common risk factors of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the presence of these risk factors (especially elevated glucose and lipid concentrations) should predict an increased MPO level during the subsequent months. We also hypothesized an association of MPO with markers of other chronic diseases involving inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients with ischemic heart disease were followed for 24 weeks by biweekly visits, during which the basic MPO level was measured (500 measurements in total, 2-12 per patient). The association of the patients' typical MPO with the risk factors of atherosclerosis and other personal determinants was examined by trend analysis and analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPO was statistically significantly associated with blood leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte concentrations of the patients (P=0.001-0.003). MPO was also associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P=0.02). MPO was not associated with markers of lipid and glucose metabolism, of atherosclerosis, or of other chronic diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contradictory to our hypotheses, the results indicate that the serum MPO level is independent of the commonly measured risk factors of atherosclerosis and markers of other chronic diseases. Consequently, the findings suggest that MPO-related acute pathologic events (such as plaque destabilization) are not associated with the preceding glucose or lipid values. However, the results support the third hypothesis and previously reported view that MPO is a marker of inflammation in patients of ischemic heart disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, Finland. iiris.salonen@carea.fi
authors.forename: Iiris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salonen
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huttunen
authors.forename: Maija-Riitta
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hirvonen
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dufva
authors.forename: Kaj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Groundstroem
authors.forename: Hilkka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dufva
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pekkanen
authors.forename: Raimo O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Salonen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000201:enzymology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D009195:Peroxidase