Korean Circ J.  2006 Jul;36(7):543-548. 10.4070/kcj.2006.36.7.543.

Plasma Osteoprotegerin Level, a New Biochemical Marker of Atherosclerosis, is Associated with Diabetes Mellitus and Age in Coronary Artery Disease

• Park CS
• Youn HJ
• Choi YS
• Lee DH
• Kim JH
• Oh YS
• Baek SH
• Chung WS
• Kim JH
• Choi KB
• Hong SJ

• KMID: 2227103
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2006.36.7.543

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There have been reports of an association between osteoprotegerin (OPG) and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the aims of this study were to evaluate the association between the plasma OPG level and the severity of atherosclerosis, as well as search for conventional cardiovascular risk factors associated with the plasma OPG level in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Plasma OPG levels were measured in 583 consecutive patients (mean age: 62+/-10 yrs, M:F=398:185), using an ELISA method, with CAD confirmed from the coronary angiogram. The intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery was also measured in 252 patients.
RESULTS
The plasma OPG level was correlated with the IMT (r=0.184, p=0.003), with the median level found to be elevated in accordance with the severity of CAD (2704 in 1VD vs. 2914 in 2VD vs. 3046 pg/mL in 3VD, p=0.024). Median plasma OPG levels were significantly higher in female (3024 vs. 2828 pg/mL, p=0.003) and DM patients (3098 vs. 2711 pg/mL, p<0.001), and positively correlated with age (r=0.340, p<0.001) and the HbA1C level (r=0.102, p=0.035), but showed an inverse correlation with BMI (r=-0.199, p<0.001). No correlation was found between high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the plasma OPG level, and no relation was found between CRP and the severity of CAD or the IMT. From a multivariate logistic regression analysis, increasing age (odds ratio, 1.053 [95% confidence interval, 1.034-1.073]), DM (odds ratio 1.664 [95% confidence interval, 1.149-2.410]) and a BMI less than 25 kg/mm2 (odds ratio, 1.625 [95% confidence interval, 1.142-2.314]) were associated with the supramedian OPG level (2831 pg/mL).
CONCLUSION
The plasma OPG level might be a biochemical marker of atherosclerosis, and is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, especially DM and age.

Keyword

Osteoprotegerin (OPG); Coronary artery disease; Diabetes mellitus

MeSH Terms

Atherosclerosis*
Biomarkers*
C-Reactive Protein
Cardiovascular Diseases
Carotid Artery, Common
Coronary Artery Disease*
Coronary Vessels*
Diabetes Mellitus*
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Osteoprotegerin*
Plasma*
Risk Factors
C-Reactive Protein
Osteoprotegerin