Low HDL cholesterol concentration is associated with increased intima-media thickness independent of arterial stiffness in healthy subjects from families with low HDL cholesterol.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is associated with increased risk for developing coronary artery disease. Cardiovascular disease is characterized by increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial stiffness, but the effect of low HDL on these measurements has not been reported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We studied 18 apparently healthy subjects from families with low HDL-C and 18 control subjects, which were pair-matched to maximize statistical power. Intima-media thickness was assessed using ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries. Arterial stiffness was measured using applanation tonometry on the radial artery and pulse-wave analysis to obtain central aortic pulse-pressure waveform, from which the augmentation index, a measure of global large artery stiffness, was calculated.

RESULTS:

Low HDL subjects (age 41 +/- 3 years, BMI 26.6 +/- 1.0 kg m(-2) had significantly lower HDL-C than the control subjects (age 41 +/- 3 years, BMI 26.5 +/- 1.0 kg m-2; 1.00 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.49 +/- 0.09 mmol L-1, low HDL vs. control subjects, P < 0.0001). Subjects with low HDL-C had significantly thicker mean IMTs than the control subjects (0.77 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.70 +/- 0.02 mm, low HDL vs. control subjects, P < 0.01). The maximal (0.99 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.89 +/- 0.03 mm, P < 0.01), far wall (0.76 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.69 +/- 0.02 mm, P < 0.05) and carotid bulb (1.11 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.97 +/- 0.04 mm) IMTs were also significantly increased, whereas the mean common carotid and the internal artery IMT were not. The age-related increase in mean IMT was more pronounced in the low HDL subjects than the control subjects (P < 0.01 for difference between elevations of age vs. IMT slopes). There were no differences in central pressure augmentation, the augmentation index, peripheral or central blood pressures between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

A low HDL-C concentration is associated with thickening of carotid IMT independent of other risk factors in healthy affected members of low HDL families.

• Authors: C Alagona, A Soro, J Westerbacka, K Ylitalo, J T Salonen, R Salonen, H Yki-Järvinen, M-R Taskinen
• Journal: European journal of clinical investigation (Eur J Clin Invest) Vol. 33 Issue 6 Pg. 457-63 (Jun 2003) ISSN: 0014-2972 [Print] England
• PMID: 12795641 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cholesterol, HDL

Topics

• Adult
• Carotid Artery Diseases (blood, etiology, pathology)
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Coronary Artery Disease (blood, etiology, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Tunica Intima (diagnostic imaging)
• Tunica Media (diagnostic imaging)
• Ultrasonography