P4.01 PLASMA FIBULIN-1 IS INCREASED IN PATIENTS WITH ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM BUT NOT PERIPHERAL ATHEROSCLEROTIC DISEASE

Abstract

Objectives: Fibulin-1 is an extracellular matrix protein that is increased in the arterial wall in diabetes. It is also present in plasma, where it is positively related to blood pressure and predicts mortality. In addition, plasma levels are associated with heart stiffness indices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between plasma fibulin-1 and vascular diseases such as aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) and peripheral atherosclerotic disease (PAD). Methods: Plasma levels of fibulin-1 were measured by ELISA in patients from an ongoing population-based screening trial for AAA, PAD and hypertension in men aged 65–74 years. Samples were obtained consecutively from 477 patients with AAA, 120 patients with PAD and AAA and 197 age-matched controls. AAA is defined as having a maximal aortic diameter > 30 mm and PAD as an ankle-brachial index (ABI) < 0.90. Results: Plasma fibulin-1 in patients with AAA (86.2 μg/ml ± 1.01 μg/ml, mean±SEM) and controls (81.6 μg/ml. SEM ± 1.01 μg/ml) were significantly different (p=0.004), OR of 5.62 (95% C.I.: 2.29–13.79, p<0.000). In patients with additional PAD no differences in relation to controls was recognized. Fibulin-1 correlated positively to infra renal aortic size (R=0.125, p=0.001), age (R=0.174, p=0.000) and body mass index (R=0.132, p=0.001) but not to low ABI, blood pressure or AAA growth-rate. There was no difference in age between groups. Conclusion: Plasma fibulin-1 was significantly higher in patients with AAA, but not in patients with additional PAD, which may be explained by an increase in extracellular matrix turnover related to AAA.