Oxidized LDL and thickness of carotid intima-media are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in middle-aged men: lower levels of oxidized LDL with statin therapy

• Published in: Atherosclerosis 2001-04, Vol.155 (2), p.403-412
• Main Authors: Vasankari, Tommi, Ahotupa, Markku, Toikka, Jyri, Mikkola, Jorma, Irjala, Kerttu, Pasanen, Paavo, Neuvonen, Kari, Raitakari, Olli, Viikari, Jorma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anticholesteremic Agents - pharmacology; Anticholesteremic Agents - therapeutic use; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular Agents - pharmacology; Cardiovascular Agents - therapeutic use; Carotid Arteries - pathology; Cholesterol Esters - blood; Comorbidity; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease - blood; Coronary Artery Disease - drug therapy; Coronary Artery Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Artery Disease - pathology; Coronary Vessels - diagnostic imaging; Diene conjugation; Fatty Acids - blood; Feeding Behavior; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; LDL oxidation; Lipids - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Statins; Triglycerides - blood; Tunica Intima - pathology; Tunica Media - pathology; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9150(00)00573-6

We investigated the relation between serum lipids including oxidized LDL and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Serum lipids and oxidized LDL was measured in 62 men (33–66 years), who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography and sonography to measure the carotid intima-media thickness. LDL oxidation was found in chemical analyses to be due to conjugated fatty acids in cholesteryl esters and triglycerides. Regression analysis indicated that the carotid intima-media thickness and the ratio of LDL diene conjugation to LDL cholesterol (the ox-LDL:LDL ratio) were the only factors associated independently with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. The patients with multi-vessel disease who did not use lipid lowering therapy had a 50% thicker carotid intima media ( P=0.030) and a 41% higher ox-LDL:LDL ratio ( P=0.020) than patients with normal vessels. Further, patients with multi-vessel disease on statin therapy had a 24% lower ox-LDL:LDL ratio than the subjects with multi-vessel disease who did not use lipid lowering drugs ( P=0.027), although the concentration of LDL cholesterol did not differ between the groups. This study supports the hypothesis that lipid oxidation plays a role in the development of atherosclerosis.