The LDL/HDL ratio and atherosclerosis in ankylosing spondylitis.
OBJECTIVE
In ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, cardiac and vascular involvement may manifest as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol constitute a significant risk for atherosclerosis. This study investigated the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), LDL/HDL ratio, total oxidant status (TOS; an indicator of oxidative stress) and ischemic modified albumin (IMA; an ischemic marker in AS patients).


METHODS
Sixty AS patients were diagnosed using the Modified New York Criteria; 54 age- and gender-matched participants were included as controls. CIMT, LDL/HDL ratio, TOS and IMA were measured using the most appropriate methods.


RESULTS
IMA was higher in AS patients compared to controls (p < 0.0001). TOS was also increased in AS patients (p = 0.005); as was CIMT (p < 0.0001). The LDL/HDL ratio was also greater in AS patients compared to controls (p = 0.047). A positive correlation was found between CIMT and LDL/HDL ratio among AS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated CIMT, IMA and TOS levels suggest an increased risk of atherosclerotic heart disease in AS patients. The LDL/HDL ratio was higher in AS patients compared to controls, and there was a correlation between LDL/HDL ratio and CIMT, albeit statistically weak. Therefore, the LDL/HDL ratio is not a reliable marker to predict atherosclerotic heart disease in AS patients.
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey. drademk@yahoo.com.
A
A
Kucuk
Eskişehir Military Hospital, Eskisehir, Rize, Turkey.
A
A
Uğur Uslu
Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
A
A
Icli
Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey.
E
E
Cure
Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
S
S
Arslan
Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
K
K
Turkmen
Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
A
A
Toker
Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
M
M
Kayrak
D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012709:Serum Albumin; C561522:ischemia-modified albumin; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human
Ankylosing spondylitis; Atherosclerosis; Dyslipidemias; Ischemia-modified albumin; Oxidative Stress