title: Association between small dense LDL and early atherosclerosis in a sample of menopausal women.
abstract: The association between small dense LDL particles and early atherosclerosis has been evaluated in a sample of middle-aged women. We analysed the relation between sd-LDL and common carotid intima media thickness in 228 menopausal women. LDL separation was performed by Lipoprint System: 7 LDL subfractions were obtained, mean LDL size and LDL score (% of sd-LDL) were calculated. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association between IMT (≥ 1.30 mm) and mean LDL size after controlling for age (OR 7.80; 95% CI 1.47-41.39; p = 0.016 for mean LDL particle size). IMT remained significantly related to mean LDL particle size after controlling for age and Apo B. In a subsequent multivariate analysis, after controlling for age, IMT (≥ 1.30 mm) was significantly related to LDL score (OR 12.15; 95% CI 1.29-114.36; p = 0.029 for LDL score), or age and Apo B (OR 10.13; 95% CI 1.07-95.71; p = 0.043 for LDL score). Our results suggest an association between sd-LDL and IMT, independently of age and Apo B. This data may indicate that sd-LDL are markers of early carotid atherosclerosis, and suggest that measurement of sd-LDL-C gives useful information in the risk assessment for atherosclerotic disease in menopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University "Federico II" Medical School, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: margenti@unina.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panico
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattiello
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ubaldi
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iannuzzo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Michele
authors.forename: Arcangelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iannuzzi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rubba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Small dense LDL; Women