Impaired plasma viscosity via increased cholesterol levels in peripheral occlusive arterial disase

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ercan, M. | Koksal, C.^; | Konukoglu, D. | Bozkurt, A.K. | Onen, S.

Affiliations: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Biophysics, Istanbul, Turkey | Sureyya Pasa Thoracic and Cardiovascular Disease Hospital, Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey | Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul, Turkey | Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey

Note: [] Corresponding author: Meltem Ercan, Incirli cad. Ferah Apt. 76/3, 34730 Bakirkoy‐Istanbul, Turkey. E‐mail: melat65@yahoo.com.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma viscosity and lipoprotein and apolipoprotein pattern in normo‐ and hypercholesterolemic patients with peripheral occlusive arterial disease (POAD). 40 patients with POAD have been selected (8 females and 32 males, mean age: 54±3.2 years) with clinically evident superficial femoral occlusive artery disease. They were separated into two groups as normocholesterolemic (plasma total cholesterol <200 mg/dl) and hypercholesterolemic (plasma total cholesterol >200 mg/dl). Plasma total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), triglycerides, total protein, and albumin levels were determined by enzymatic methods using commercial kits. Levels of apolipoprotein AI (apo AI), and apolipoprotein B (apo B) were measured using a immunoturbidometric method. Plasma viscosity (PV) was measured by capillary viscometer. Classifying the patients with PAOD according to the cholesterol levels; hypercholesterolemic (mean total‐cholesterol: 227.90±26.97 mg/dl) patients had significantly higher LDL‐C, PV and triglyceride levels compared with nornocholesterolemic patients (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). HDL‐C and apo B were significantly lower in hypercholesterolemic patients than in normocholesterolemic patients (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). PV was positively correlated with total cholesterol (r=0.485, p<0.05), atherogenic index (r=0.624, p<0.01), total‐C/HDL‐C ratio (r=0.624, p<0.05), and LDL‐C/HDL‐C ratio (r=0.707, p<0.001) in hypercholesterolemic patients with POAD. PV was higher in hypercholesterolemic patients with POAD than in normocholesterolemic patients with POAD. We suggest that POAD patients should be regarded as a heterogenous group with lipid and lipoprotein parameters in order to assess the microcirculation in the affected limb. In case of dyslipidemia in POAD patients an elevated plasma viscosity should be considered as coexisting risk factor.

Keywords: Peripheral occlusive arterial disease, cholesterol, plasma viscosity, lipoprotein, atherogenic index

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 3-9, 2003