Biomarkers of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients with Autoimmune Disorders

• Main Authors: Elisabetta Profumo (Author), Manuela Di Franco (Author), Brigitta Buttari (Author), Roberta Masella (Author), Carmelina Filesi (Author), Maria Elena Tosti (Author), Rossana Scrivo (Author), Antongiulio Scarno (Author), Antonio Spadaro (Author), Luciano Saso (Author), Rachele Riganò (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Hindawi Limited, 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

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.

Item Description

0962-9351
1466-1861
10.1155/2012/503942