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Biomarkers of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients with Autoimmune Disorders

2012; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; Volume: 2012; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1155/2012/503942

1466-1861

Elisabetta Profumo, Manuela Di Franco, Brigitta Buttari, Roberta Masella, Carmelina Filesi, Maria Elena Tosti, Rossana Scrivo, A. Scarno, Antonio Spadaro, Luciano Saso, Rachele Riganò,

Inflammasome and immune disorders

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.