title: Plasma sphingomyelin and longitudinal change in percent emphysema on CT. The MESA lung study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ceramide causes endothelial apoptosis and emphysema-like changes in animal models.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Test if plasma sphingomyelin, a major precursor of ceramide, would predict longitudinal increase in the percentage of emphysema-like lung on computed tomography (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  3840 participants had their plasma sphingomyelin measured at baseline examination and their pulmonary emphysema measured on cardiac CT scans at baseline and on follow-up visits. Mixed effects models were used to adjust for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One standard deviation increase in sphingomyelin predicted a 0.12% per year (95% CI: 0.02-0.22; p = 0.019) greater increase of percent emphysema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher plasma levels of sphingomyelin predicted greater annual increase in quantitatively measured percent emphysema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and.
authors.forename: Firas S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Xian-cheng
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yeboah
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.forename: Kristin Marie
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Burkart
authors.forename: R Graham
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Barr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004646:Emphysema / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000097:blood*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D013109:Sphingomyelins