A higher level of IgM anti-oxidized LDL antibodies is associated with a lower severity of coronary atherosclerosis in patients on statins

Abstract

Background: Several studies show the association between anti-oxidized LDL antibodies and atherosclerosis. A certain association also seems to exist between the levels of these antibodies and treatment with statins. However, the clinical importance of these autoantibodies is still under discussion. The aim of this study was to determine whether levels of anti-oxidized LDL antibodies are associated with the presence of multivessel coronary artery disease according to whether statins were or were not being taken.

Methods and results: The study included 236 patients who underwent invasive coronary angiography with quantification of coronary atherosclerotic lesions to determine the presence of multivessel coronary artery disease. Measurements were made of IgG and IgM anti-oxidized LDL antibodies. In the group of patients who were taking statins, the percentage of patients with IgM anti-oxidized LDL antibodies below 50th percentile was significantly higher in those with multivessel coronary artery disease (57.4% vs. 37.5%, P<0.05). A logistic regression model in the patients taking statins showed that the variable significantly associated with the presence of multivessel coronary artery disease was the level of IgM anti-oxidized LDL antibodies.

Conclusions: The severity of multivessel coronary artery disease was inversely related with the levels of IgM anti-oxidized LDL antibodies, especially in the patients on statins.