This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Data Supplement Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Baldassarre, D. Articles by Franceschini, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Baldassarre, D. Articles by Franceschini, G. Related Collections Pathophysiology Risk Factors Imaging Lipid and lipoprotein metabolism Mechanism of atherosclerosis/growth factors

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2002;22:317.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins

Increased Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in Subjects With Primary Hypoalphalipoproteinemia

Damiano Baldassarre; Mauro Amato; Linda Pustina; Elena Tremoli; Cesare R. Sirtori; Laura Calabresi; Guido Franceschini

From the Center E. Grossi Paoletti, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.

Correspondence to Prof. Guido Franceschini, Center E. Grossi Paoletti, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy. E-mail Guido.Franceschini{at}unimi.it

The plasma concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is inversely correlated with the incidence of atherosclerotic vascular events. In the present study, we evaluated pre-intrusive atherosclerosis in subjects with plasma HDL-C at the extremities of normal distribution. Fifty-five subjects with primary hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HypoALP) or hyperalphalipoproteinemia (HyperALP) were compared with fifty-five control subjects with average HDL-C levels, matched for sex, age, and plasma cholesterol. The average and maximal intima-media thicknesses (Avg-IMT and Max-IMT) of 48 carotid segments for each subject were approximately 40% greater in HypoALP than in control subjects (0.94±0.06 versus 0.69±0.04 mm, P=0.004, and 1.86±0.16 versus 1.35±0.10 mm, P=0.025, respectively). The IMT values in HyperALP subjects (Avg-IMT, 0.71±0.04 and Max-IMT, 1.38±0.14 mm) were the same as in controls. In a large cohort of hyperlipidemic subjects (n=559), significantly greater Avg-IMT and Max-IMT were found in subjects belonging to the first HDL-C quintile (<42 mg/dL) than in all the others. The measurement of carotid IMT in cases with HypoALP and HyperALP, and in a large series of hyperlipidemic patients, thus indicates that a low HDL-C is associated with significant pre-intrusive atherosclerosis, whereas a HDL-C level above average values does not lead to a further reduction of arterial wall thickening.

Key Words: Intima-media thickness • high-density lipoproteins • hypoalphalipoproteinemia • hyperalphalipoproteinemia • preintrusive atherosclerosis

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Bitzur, H. Cohen, Y. Kamari, A. Shaish, and D. Harats Triglycerides and HDL Cholesterol: Stars or second leads in diabetes? Diabetes Care, November 1, 2009; 32(suppl_2): S373 - S377. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Calabresi, D. Baldassarre, S. Castelnuovo, P. Conca, L. Bocchi, C. Candini, B. Frigerio, M. Amato, C. R. Sirtori, P. Alessandrini, et al. Functional Lecithin: Cholesterol Acyltransferase Is Not Required for Efficient Atheroprotection in Humans Circulation, August 18, 2009; 120(7): 628 - 635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. R. Sirtori HDL and the progression of atherosclerosis: new insights Eur. Heart J. Suppl., October 1, 2006; 8(suppl_F): F4 - F9. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Fateh-Moghadam, Z. Li, S. Ersel, T. Reuter, P. Htun, U. Plockinger, W. Bocksch, R. Dietz, and M. Gawaz Platelet Degranulation Is Associated With Progression of Intima-Media Thickness of the Common Carotid Artery in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, June 1, 2005; 25(6): 1299 - 1303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Kontush, E. C. de Faria, S. Chantepie, and M. J. Chapman Antioxidative Activity of HDL Particle Subspecies Is Impaired in Hyperalphalipoproteinemia: Relevance of Enzymatic and Physicochemical Properties Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, March 1, 2004; 24(3): 526 - 533. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. H. Hong, W. Riley, J. Rhyne, G. Friel, and M. Miller Lack of Association between Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickening and Decreased HDL-Cholesterol in a Family with a Novel ABCA1 Variant, G2265T Clin. Chem., November 1, 2002; 48(11): 2066 - 2070. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]