Proatherogenic oxidized low-density lipoprotein/β2-glycoprotein I complexes in arterial and venous disease

OxLDL/β2GPI complexes have been implicated in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and associated with disease severity and adverse outcomes. We investigate the significance of anti-oxLDL/β2GPI antibodies and oxLDL/β2GPI complexes in patients with arterial and idiopathic venous disease. A cohort of 61 arterial disease patients, 32 idiopathic venous disease patients, and 53 healthy controls was studied. Because statins influence oxLDL/β2GPI, these complexes were analyzed on subjects not taking statins. Arterial and venous groups expressed higher levels of IgG anti-oxLDL/β2GPI antibodies than controls without any other significant clinical association. OxLDL/β2GPI complexes were significantly elevated in arterial (0.69 U/mL, P = 0.004) and venous disease (0.54 U/mL, P = 0.025) than controls (0.39 U/mL). Among arterial diseases, oxLDL/β2GPI was 0.85 U/mL for carotid artery disease, 0.72 U/mL for peripheral artery disease, and 0.52 U/mL for abdominal aortic aneurysm. There was a significant association with male gender, age, hypertension, and history of thrombosis. Subjects with oxLDL/β2GPI above the median (0.25 U/mL) were more likely to have arterial (OR 4.5, P = 0.004) or venous disease (OR 4.1, P = 0.008). Multivariate regression indicated that males (P = 0.021), high cholesterol (P = 0.011), and carotid disease (P = 0.023) were significant predictors of oxLDL/β2GPI. The coexistence of oxLDL/β2GPI in arterial and venous disease may suggest a common oxidative mechanism that independently predicts carotid artery disease.