Abstract

AIMS: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) plays a key role in atherosclerosis progression and plaque destabilization. We investigated the relationship between intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT; an early marker of atherosclerosis) and OPG levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and chronic coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We studied 133 consecutive patients, mean age 65 ± 9 years, referred to our department for coronary angiography. They were evaluated for cardiovascular risk factors, OPG levels and CCA-IMT and accordingly divided in two subgroups: ACS and chronic CAD. RESULTS: Except for age, the two groups were similar according to conventional cardiovascular risk factors. The chronic CAD group showed a CCA-IMT lower than the ACS group (0.86 ± 0.15 vs. 0.94 ± 0.22 mm, P = 0.027); there were no differences regarding the extension of coronary atherosclerosis on angiograms. The OPG levels were higher in chronic CAD patients than in ACS patients (5.36 ± 3.06 vs. 3.85 ± 2.96 pmol/l, P = 0.004). Moreover, the CCA-IMT was significantly correlated with the age of the patients (r = 0.5; P < 0.001). OPG values were not related either to age or to the CCA-IMT. At analysis of covariance, when adjusting the groups for age, the comparison of the two groups lost statistical significance for CCA-IMT (P = 0.41), whereas the OPG values remained significant after the correction (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: OPG levels are higher in chronic CAD patients. CCA-IMT confirmed its importance in predicting CAD, showing significantly higher values in the patients in the ACS group as compared with those in the chronic CAD group.

Autore Pugliese

• Ciccone Marco Matteo , Lepera Mario Erminio

Tutti gli autori

• ZITO A.;CICCONE M.M.;LEPERA M.E.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2013

ISSN

1558-2027

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

13

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

13

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile