Biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with autoimmune disorders

Mediators Inflamm. 2012:2012:503942. doi: 10.1155/2012/503942. Epub 2012 Feb 22.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is accelerated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We investigated a possible association of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDLs), nitric oxide (NO), 3-nitrotyrosine, vitamin A, vitamin E, and β-carotene serum levels with subclinical atherosclerosis in RA and PsA. By the use of ELISA, we observed higher ox-LDL levels in patients with intima-media thickness (IMT) > 1 than in patients with IMT ≤ 1 and a negative correlation between NO levels and IMT values. By the use of high-performance liquid chromatography, we determined higher levels of vitamin A in patients with PsA and IMT ≤ 1 than in controls and lower levels of β-carotene in patients with RA and PsA than in controls. β-carotene concentrations were negatively correlated to the duration of disease in RA. Our study confirms that ox-LDLs and NO may be markers of accelerated atherosclerosis in RA and PsA whereas vitamins seem to be associated only to the presence of the autoimmune disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arthritis, Psoriatic / blood*
  • Arthritis, Psoriatic / complications
  • Arthritis, Psoriatic / immunology*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / blood*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology*
  • Atherosclerosis / blood*
  • Atherosclerosis / complications
  • Atherosclerosis / immunology*
  • Carotid Artery, Common / pathology
  • Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Risk
  • Tyrosine / analogs & derivatives
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • Vitamin A / metabolism
  • Vitamin E / metabolism
  • beta Carotene / metabolism

Substances

  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein
  • beta Carotene
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin E
  • Nitric Oxide
  • 3-nitrotyrosine
  • Tyrosine