Article type: Research Article
Authors: Palavra, Filipe; | Marado, Daniela | Mascarenhas-Melo, Filipa | Sereno, José | Teixeira-Lemos, Edite | Nunes, Carla Cecília | Gonçalves, Grilo | Teixeira, Frederico | Reis, Flávio
Affiliations: Neurology Department, General Hospital, University and
Hospital Centre of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics, IBILI, Medicine Faculty, Coimbra University, Coimbra,
Portugal | Internal Medicine Department, General Hospital,
University and Hospital Centre of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | ESAV and Educational Technologies and Health Study
Center, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Viseu,
Portugal
Note: [] Corresponding author: Filipe Palavra, Neurology Department,
General Hospital, University and Hospital Centre of Coimbra, Quinta dos Vales,
S. Martinho do Bispo, 3041-801 Coimbra, Portugal. Tel.: +351 239 800 052; Fax:
+351 239 800 179; E-mail: filipepalavra@gmail.com
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize a population of
multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in terms of traditional and new cardiovascular
risk factors and assess their putative correlation with clinical disease
activity (evaluated by the Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS]). METHODS: Thirty relapsing MS patients and 66 subjects, matched by
age and sex, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. For each subject,
anthropometric data were collected and classical biochemical (including lipid
profile, glucose and C reactive protein [CRP] levels) and novel markers
(paraoxonase 1 [PON1] enzyme activity and contents of high-density lipoprotein
[HDL] cholesterol, oxidized low-density lipoprotein [Ox-LDL], tumor necrosis
factor [TNF]-alfa, vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and adiponectin)
were studied. RESULTS: In patients group, 23 women and 7 men were included, aged
35.00 (28.25–40.25) years and scoring a median of 2.00 (1.50–3.13)
in EDSS. Comparing with controls, the most relevant differences encountered
were: increased serum triglycerides (P< 0.001), Ox-LDL (P< 0.001) as well
as Ox-LDL/LDL ratio and reduced small HDL (P=0.040), accompanied by a trend to
increased VEGF concentration. LDL content, especially Ox-LDL, showed positive
and significant correlation with EDSS (r=0.458; P=0.011) and VEGF (r=0.453;
P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: MS patients presented a profile of early CV risk, being
Ox-LDL contents a putative good marker and having correlation with the clinical
activity of the disease.
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, early cardiovascular risk, EDSS, oxidized-LDL, small HDL, VEGF
DOI: 10.3233/DMA-130979
Journal: Disease Markers, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 341-348, 2013
Received 22 February 2013
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Accepted 22 February 2013
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Published: 2013
