Journal
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
Volume 134, Issue 2, Pages 335-341Publisher
MOSBY-ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2006.12.064
Keywords
-
Funding
- Medical Research Council [G0601215] Funding Source: Medline
- MRC [G0601215] Funding Source: UKRI
- Medical Research Council [G0601215] Funding Source: researchfish
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objectives: Endothelial dysfunction and C-reactive protein play a pivotal role in development of atherosclerosis and act as markers for future adverse cardiac events. Statins reduce C-reactive protein levels and improve endothelial function. However, little information is available on endothelial function and its determinants in veins. We investigated the association between saphenous vein endothelial function and C-reactive protein levels in patients treated with statins undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Methods: Seventy-six patients with optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (<= 1.6 mmol/ L) secondary to regular treatment with a minimum of simvastatin 40 mg were recruited. Each subject underwent detailed characterization according to anthropomorphic data, saphenous vein endothelial function (assessed ex vivo by measuring acetylcholine-induced relaxation of venous rings), and markers of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). Results: Despite regular treatment with statins, 26% of patients had C-reactive protein levels in the high-risk range ( > 3.0 mg/ L). There was a negative linear correlation between acetylcholine-induced venous relaxation and C-reactive protein (r = -30, P = .02) and waist circumference (r = - 0.21, P = .03). In a multivariate regression model, C-reactive protein (P = .02) was the only independent predictor of acetylcholine-induced venous relaxation. In turn, correlates of C-reactive protein were assessed. There was a correlation between C-reactive protein and coronary atherosclerotic burden (r = .46, P < .0001), body mass index (r = .26, P = .03), fasting glucose levels (r = .31, P = .01), and waist circumference (r = .29, P = .01). Using multivariate analysis, coronary atherosclerotic burden (P < .0001) was the only independent predictor of C-reactive protein. Conclusions: In our cohort of patients with coronary artery disease, C-reactive protein level was the only independent predictor of saphenous vein endothelial function. In turn, its levels were independently influenced by the extent of coronary atherosclerotic burden.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available