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Lipid peroxides and atherosclerosis
M D Stringer1, P G Görög, A Freeman
1Thrombosis Research Unit, King's College Hospital, London.
Insights
Elevated plasma lipid peroxide levels are significantly higher in patients with occlusive arterial disease, including ischemic heart disease and peripheral arterial disease, compared to healthy controls. These findings suggest peroxidized lipids may indicate atherosclerosis severity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Pathology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
- The role of oxidative stress in atherogenesis is increasingly recognized.
- Lipid peroxidation products are potential biomarkers of cardiovascular disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma lipid peroxide concentrations in patients with angiographically proven occlusive arterial disease.
- To compare lipid peroxide levels between patients with ischemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, and controls.
- To explore the correlation between plasma lipid peroxides and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative measurement of plasma lipid peroxide concentrations using spectrophotometry.
- Angiographic confirmation of occlusive arterial disease in 100 patients.
- Comparison of lipid peroxide levels with 75 healthy control subjects.
- Statistical analysis including median, interquartile range, and correlation coefficients (Spearman's rho).
Main Results:
- Significantly higher plasma lipid peroxide concentrations were observed in both ischemic heart disease (median 4.37 mumol/l) and peripheral arterial disease (median 4.37 mumol/l) patient groups compared to controls (median 3.65 mumol/l) (p < 0.001).
- A weak but significant positive correlation was found between plasma lipid peroxide and plasma triglyceride concentrations (rs = 0.25; p < 0.001).
- No significant association was found between plasma lipid peroxide levels and hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking, family history, beta-blocker, or thiazide diuretic use.
Conclusions:
- Clinical data support the hypothesis that peroxidized lipids play a role in the development and complications of atherosclerosis.
- Plasma lipid peroxide concentrations may serve as a valuable index for assessing the severity of atherosclerosis.
- Further research is warranted to explore the therapeutic potential of targeting lipid peroxidation in cardiovascular disease management.
Abstract:
Plasma lipid peroxide concentrations were measured in 100 patients with occlusive arterial disease proved angiographically (50 patients with ischaemic heart disease, 50 with peripheral arterial disease) and compared with values in 75 control patients with no clinical evidence of atherosclerosis. Lipid peroxide concentrations were significantly higher in patients both with ischaemic heart disease (median 4.37 mumol/l (interquartile range 3.85-5.75 mumol/l); p less than 0.001) and with peripheral arterial disease (median 4.37 mumol/l (3.88-5.21 mumol/l); p less than 0.001) than in controls (median 3.65 mumol/l (interquartile range 3.29-3.89 mumol/l). Overall there was a significant but weak correlation between plasma lipid peroxide and plasma triglyceride concentrations (rs = 0.25; p less than 0.001) but not between plasma lipid peroxide and plasma total cholesterol concentrations. Furthermore, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking, positive family history, and intake of beta blockers and thiazide diuretics were not associated with significant differences in lipid peroxide values. This study provides clinical support to experimental data indicating that peroxidised lipids may be important in atherogenesis and its complications and also suggests that peroxidised lipids may provide an index of the severity of atherosclerosis.