title: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and arterial stiffness evaluation in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The association between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains equivocal. Arterial stiffness, as assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) are surrogates of CVD risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess carotid-femoral PWV and Lp-PLA2 in patients with IBD without history of CVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Established CVD risk factors, IBD characteristics, PWV and Lp-PLA2 activity were assessed in 44 patients with IBD, 29 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 15 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 44 matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IBD patients had lower total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. There was no difference in PWV between patients and controls (6.8 vs. 6.4m/s), but patients with CD had higher PWV compared to those with UC (7 vs. 6.3m/s; p=0.044), and to controls. Smoking rates were significantly higher among CD patients. Factors associated with PWV were age, mean arterial pressure and smoking. Lp-PLA2 activity was significantly lower in patients with IBD (46.8 vs. 53.9 nmol/mL/min; p=0.011). There was no difference in Lp-PLA2 between CD and UC patients. LDL-C was the only significant predictor of Lp-PLA2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed lower Lp-PLA2 activity in patients with IBD compared with controls, reflecting lower LDL-C in the former. There was no difference in PWV between the two groups. Arterial stiffness was higher in patients with CD, which is likely related to higher smoking rates. These findings challenge a possible association between IBD and CVD, but further studies are required.
authors: 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: eltheocharidou@hotmail.com.
authors: Eleni
authors: E
authors: Theocharidou
authors: Atherothrombosis Research Centre, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors: Constantinos C
authors: CC
authors: Tellis
authors: 3rd Department of Cardiology, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Melachrini
authors: M
authors: Mavroudi
authors: 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Soufleris
authors: Department of Cardiology, AHEPA General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Thomas D
authors: TD
authors: Gossios
authors: 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Giouleme
authors: 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Vasilios G
authors: VG
authors: Athyros
authors: Atherothrombosis Research Centre, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors: Alexandros D
authors: AD
authors: Tselepis
authors: 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Asterios
authors: A
authors: Karagiannis
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Cardiovascular disease; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2; Pulse wave velocity