title: Plasma osteoprotegerin levels increase with the severity of cerebral artery atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily and suggested as a marker of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether plasma OPG levels were associated with the presence and severity of cerebral atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the plasma OPG levels of 107 patients with acute cerebral infarction. We compared the plasma OPG levels according to the presence and number of arteries with cerebral atherosclerosis (≥ 50% stenosis).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 107 patients, 73 (68.2%) had cerebral atherosclerosis. OPG levels were increased in patients with cerebral atherosclerosis (374.69 ± 206.48 vs 261.17 ± 166.91 pg/mL, p=0.006). OPG levels showed positive correlation with the number of cerebral arteries with atherosclerosis (Spearman's rho=0.342, p<0.001). After adjustment for vascular risk factors, OPG>229.9 pg/mL was independently associated with the presence [OR 4.61, 95% CI 1.57-13.55, p=0.005, binary logistic regression] of cerebral atherosclerosis and number [OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.26-8.12, p=0.014, ordinal logistic regression] of arteries with cerebral atherosclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma OPG levels were significantly associated with the presence and severity of cerebral atherosclerosis. This finding suggests that plasma OPG might have a role in cerebral atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Neurology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jinkwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Severance Cerebral and Cardiovascular Integrative Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Severance Cerebral and Cardiovascular Integrative Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ok-Hee
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Dae
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Severance Cerebral and Cardiovascular Integrative Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chung Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Severance Cerebral and Cardiovascular Integrative Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jhheo@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Ji Hoe
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Heo
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D053244:Osteoprotegerin
keywords: Atherosclerosis; CI; CT; CTA; Cerebral artery; Cerebral infarction; DSA; IQR; MMP; MR; MRA; OPG; OR; Osteoprotegerin; RANKL; SD; Stroke; TNF; TRAIL; Tumor necrosis factor; computed tomographic angiography; computed tomography; confidence interval; digital subtraction angiography; eGFR; estimated glomerular filtration rate; high sensitive C-reactive protein; hs-CRP; interquartile range; magnetic resonance; magnetic resonance angiography; matrix metalloproteinases; odds ratio; osteoprotegerin; receptor activator of nucleus factor-κB ligand; standard deviation; tumor necrosis factor; tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand