title: Markers of early atherosclerosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with acromegaly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data regarding atherosclerosis in acromegaly is controversial in literature. We aimed to investigate the markers of early atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and their relationships with each other in acromegaly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients with acromegaly and 40 control subjects were enrolled. Patients were classified into two groups; active acromegaly (AA) and controlled acromegaly (CA). Controls were matched by age, gender, body mass index and presence of cardiovascular risk factors. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD), carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EAT) were measured and serum levels of oxidative stress parameters, high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and high sensitive CRP (hs CRP) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly decreased FMD, increased CIMT and EAT were found in patients with acromegaly compared to controls (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). EAT correlated negatively with FMD (r = -0.24, p = 0.038) and positively with CIMT (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). Presence of acromegaly, hypertension and age were found to be the predictors of early atherosclerosis (p < 0.05). Hs CRP was decreased in AA compared to controls (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences for HMGB1 and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) cholesterol levels and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) between AA, CA and controls (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early atherosclerosis measured with FMD, CIMT and EAT may exist in acromegaly. However, decreased hs CRP and unchanged HMGB1, ox-LDL and TAC levels suggest that inflammation and oxidative stress do not seem to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Besevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey, cozkan34@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Alev Eroglu
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Altinova
authors.forename: Ethem Turgay
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Cerit
authors.forename: Cagri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yayla
authors.forename: Asife
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahinarslan
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Aylin Sepici
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dincel
authors.forename: Fusun Balos
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Toruner
authors.forename: Mujde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akturk
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; C585491:HMGB1 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein