Cardiovascular determinants of plasma fibronectin in an elderly population: the EVA study

Plasma fibronectin was determined in 1262 individuals (742 females, 520 males) aged 59-71 years at the beginning of an epidemiological study on vascular aging (the EVA study) in Nantes, western France. The average values (62.88+/-20.30 mg/100 ml for males, n=520 and 62.15+/-18.85 mg/100 ml for females, n=742) and the distribution of values were comparable for males and females. Significant positive correlations were found in both sexes between plasma fibronectin values and some cardiovascular risk factors such as body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, triglycerides and fibrinogen. A significant negative correlation was found with high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. No correlation was found between fibronectin values and smoking or alcohol consumption. Multiple regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides remained significantly associated with plasma fibronectin whereas only marginal associations were found with age, body mass index and fibrinogen. These results are in agreement with previous findings showing a strong increase in fibronectin in atherosclerotic plaques and also the complex formation between fibronectin and LDL. These results substantiate the claim that modifications of the metabolism of extracellular matrix components accompany the atherosclerotic process.