title: Iron, inflammation and atherosclerosis risk in men vs. perimenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Age at first atherosclerotic event is typically older for women vs. men; monthly iron loss has been postulated to contribute to this advantage. We investigated the relationship between an MRI-based arterial wall biomarker and the serum inflammatory biomarker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in perimenopausal women vs. men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women without evident atherosclerotic disease were prospectively enrolled and observed over 24 months of menopause transition, indicated by hormone levels and reduction in median number of menstrual cycles from 4 [3-6] per year to 0 [0-1] per year (P < 0.01). Higher hsCRP predicted shorter carotid artery wall T2* in women entering the menopause transition (r = -0.3139, P = 0.0014); this relationship weakened after 24 months of perimenopause in women (r = -0.1718, P = 0.0859) and was not significant in a cohort of men matched for age and cardiovascular risk category (r = -0.0310, P = 0.8362). Serum ferritin increased from baseline to 24-month follow-up during women's menopause transition (37 [20-79] to 67 [36-97] ng/mL, P < 0.01), but still remained lower compared to men (111 [45-220] ng/mL, P < 0.01). Circulating ferritin levels correlated with arterial wall T2* values in women at baseline (r = -0.3163, P = 0.0013) but not in women after 24 months (r = -0.0730, P = 0.4684) of menopause transition nor in men (r = 0.0862, P = 0.5644).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An arterial wall iron-based imaging biomarker reflects degree of systemic inflammation in younger women, whereas this relationship is lost as women transition through menopause to become more similar to men. Iron homeostasis and inflammation in the arterial wall microenvironment warrants further investigation as a potential early target for interventions that mitigate atherosclerosis risk.
authors: Ohio State University (OSU), Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 473 W. 12th Ave, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: raman.1@osu.edu.
authors: Subha V
authors: SV
authors: Raman
authors: Ohio State University (OSU), Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 473 W. 12th Ave, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Travis P
authors: TP
authors: Sharkey-Toppen
authors: Ohio State University (OSU), Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 473 W. 12th Ave, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Tam
authors: T
authors: Tran
authors: Ohio State University (OSU), Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 473 W. 12th Ave, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Jim X
authors: JX
authors: Liu
authors: Ohio State University (OSU), Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 473 W. 12th Ave, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Beth
authors: B
authors: McCarthy
authors: University of Maryland, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 2234H SPH Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: He
authors: Ohio State University (OSU), Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 473 W. 12th Ave, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Smart
authors: Ohio State University (OSU), Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 473 W. 12th Ave, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Martha
authors: M
authors: Gulati
authors: OSU, Department of Family Medicine, 2231 N. High St, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Randell
authors: R
authors: Wexler
authors: Ohio State University (OSU), Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 473 W. 12th Ave, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Orlando P
authors: OP
authors: Simonetti
authors: OSU, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, 1581 Dodd Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Rebecca D
authors: RD
authors: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000737:chemistry*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Iron; Magnetic resonance imaging; Risk factors; Women