Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Demonstrate Higher Levels of Non-cholesterol Sterol Markers of Endogenous Cholesterol Synthesis
Miroslav Prucha *
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Immunology, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
Petr Sedivy
Department of Vascular Surgery, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
Petr Stadler
Department of Vascular Surgery, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
Ladislava Dubská
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Immunology, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
Frantisek Pehal
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Immunology, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
Josef Hyanek
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Immunology, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To establish the levels of selected non-cholesterol sterols in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and to compare them with levels in non-AAA patients treated for lipid metabolism disorder. To compare the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Lp-PLA 2 – inflammation markers in the same group of patients.
Study Design: A total of 58 AAA patients indicated for elective surgical procedure and 20 non-AAA patients in the control group treated for lipid metabolism disorder were examined.
Methodology: Lathosterol (Lat), desmosterol (Des), lanosterol (Lan), campesterol (Cam) and sitosterol (Sit) were analysed with the use of GC/MS in fasting plasma of patients with AAA and outpatients suffering from lipid metabolism disorder. hs-CRP and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 were analysed in both groups.
Results: hs-CRP levels were significantly increased in patients with AAA compared to the control group (med. 3.6 mg/L, IQR 1.83 to 6.0 mg/L vs. 2.05 mg/L, IQR 0.99 to 3.0 mg/L, P = .007). Levels of non-cholesterol precursors of cholesterol synthesis – Lan, Des and Lat – were statistically significantly higher in the group of AAA patients compared to non-AAA patients (Lan: med. 0.28 µmol/L, IQR 0.24 to 0.32 µmol/L vs. 0.23 µmol/L, IQR 0.20 to 0.25 µmol/L, P = .004; Des: med. 3.69 µmol/L, IQR 3.12 to 4.66 µmol/L vs. 3.03 µmol/L, IQR 2.68 to 3.33 µmol/L, P = .0005; Lat: 5.95 µmol/L, IQR 5.18 to 6.9 µmol/L vs. 4.72 µmol/L, IQR 4.32 to 5.22 µmol/L, P = .0002) while there were no statistically significant differences in the absorption parameters of Sit or Cam in either group (Sit: med 6.29 µmol/L, IQR 5.02 to 9.37 µmol/L vs. 6.12 µmol/L, IQR 4.99 to 7.01 µmol/L, P = .65; Cam: med 8.6 µmol/L, IQR 7.31 to 10.71 µmol/L vs. 8.46 µmol/L, IQR 7.24 to 10.86 µmol/L, P = .96).
Conclusion: The markers of endogenous cholesterol synthesis in AAA patients are higher compared with those in non-AAA patients treated for lipid metabolism disorder. Higher hs-CRP levels in AAA patients show increased inflammatory activity compared with the control group.
Keywords: Aortic abdominal aneurysm, non-cholesterol sterols, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, statins