Περίληψη:
Background Evidence shows that the soluble tumour necrosis
factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (sTRAIL) may play a protective
role against atherosclerosis. This study sought to investigate the
potential association of sTRAIL levels with intravascular ultrasound
(IVUS) and virtual histology characteristics of coronary plaques.
Methods Patients with stable angina or positive for ischaemia
non-invasive test were submitted to left cardiac catheterisation.
Coronary blood samples were collected and sTRAIL was measured. Coronary
arteries with at least one 50% or greater stenosis were studied with
IVUS.
Results 56 coronary arteries were studied with significant coronary
artery disease. Plaque volume per unit of arterial length was 63 +/- 65
mm(3)/cm in arteries at the lower quartile of sTRAIL concentration
versus 30 +/- 64 mm(3)/cm at the upper quartile (p<0.001; 95% CI of the
difference 19.7 to 46.3 mm(3)/cm). The necrotic core and fibrofatty
content of atheromatous plaques were inversely associated with sTRAIL
(p<0.001). Thin-cap fibroatheromas (TCFA) were discovered in 16 of the
56 arterial segments. The mean sTRAIL concentration in these segments
was 56.8 +/- 7.5 pg/ml versus 99.9 +/- 5.7 pg/ml in those without TCFA
(p<0.001; 95% CI of the difference 22.7 to 63.5 pg/ml). The association
of sTRAIL with the presence of TCFA remained significant in the logistic
multivariate analysis (p=0.009).
Conclusion According to the findings of the present study, in addition
to coronary artery disease burden, the sTRAIL concentration is also
related to the composition of atheromatous plaques. A significant
association is demonstrated between low sTRAIL levels and the presence
of TCFA, the IVUS-virtual histology prototype of the vulnerable plaque.
Συγγραφείς:
Deftereos, Spyridon
Giannopoulos, Georgios
Kossyvakis,
Charalampos
Kaoukis, Andreas
Raisakis, Konstantinos and
Panagopoulou, Vasiliki
Miliou, Antigoni
Theodorakis, Andreas and
Driva, Metaxia
Pyrgakis, Vlasios
Stefanadis, Christodoulos and
Cleman, Michael W.
