3.6 OSTEOPROTEGERIN IS ASSOCIATED INDEPENDENTLY WITH AORTIC STIFFNESS IN PATIENTS WITH ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS

Abstract

Background: Arterial stiffening is an independent predictor for cardiovascular mortality. Preliminary studies have shown that arterial calcification may have impact on increased vascular stiffness. However, little is known about the role of calcification inhibitor osteoprotegerin (OPG) as an independent predictor of arterial stiffness in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and in healthy subjects. Aim: To evaluate the association between OPG level and arterial stiffness parameters in patients with PAD and in healthy subjects. Materials and methods: We studied 59 males with PAD (age 63±7 years) and 44 healthy subjects (age 54±7 years). Serum OPG level was measured using ELISA kit. Arterial stiffness parameters, such as aortic pulse wave velocity aPWV and augmentation index, were determined by applanation tonometry using the Sphygmocor device. Results: OPG level (5.40±1.77 vs 4.19±1.14 (pmol/L); p<0.001) and aPWV (9.86±2.31 vs 7.69±1.66 (m/s); p<0.001) were different for the patients and for the controls. There was linear relationship between OPG level and aPWV in patients with PAD (R=0.51, p=0.0001) as well as in healthy individuals (R=0.47; p=0.002). In multiple regression models, OPG level was independently associated with aPWV along with age and mean arterial pressure in the patient group (R2=0.34; p=0.034) as well as in the controls (R2=0.49; p=0.037) Conclusion: The independent association between OPG level and aPWV in patients with PAD and in controls suggests that calcification inhibitor OPG may be important in the process of aortic stiffening in atherosclerosis and in healthy subjects.