Jinkwon Kim1, Tae-Jin Song2, Seung-Hee Yang3, Ok-Hee Lee3, Hyo Suk Nam2, Young Dae Kim2, Eun Hee Kim3, Hye Sun Lee4, Chung Mo Nam4, Ji Hoe Heo5. 1. Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Neurology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Severance Cerebral and Cardiovascular Integrative Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Biostatistics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Severance Cerebral and Cardiovascular Integrative Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jhheo@yuhs.ac.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily and suggested as a marker of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether plasma OPG levels were associated with the presence and severity of cerebral atherosclerosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the plasma OPG levels of 107 patients with acute cerebral infarction. We compared the plasma OPG levels according to the presence and number of arteries with cerebral atherosclerosis (≥ 50% stenosis). RESULTS: Of 107 patients, 73 (68.2%) had cerebral atherosclerosis. OPG levels were increased in patients with cerebral atherosclerosis (374.69 ± 206.48 vs 261.17 ± 166.91 pg/mL, p=0.006). OPG levels showed positive correlation with the number of cerebral arteries with atherosclerosis (Spearman's rho=0.342, p<0.001). After adjustment for vascular risk factors, OPG>229.9 pg/mL was independently associated with the presence [OR 4.61, 95% CI 1.57-13.55, p=0.005, binary logistic regression] of cerebral atherosclerosis and number [OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.26-8.12, p=0.014, ordinal logistic regression] of arteries with cerebral atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma OPG levels were significantly associated with the presence and severity of cerebral atherosclerosis. This finding suggests that plasma OPG might have a role in cerebral atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVES:Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily and suggested as a marker of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether plasma OPG levels were associated with the presence and severity of cerebral atherosclerosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the plasma OPG levels of 107 patients with acute cerebral infarction. We compared the plasma OPG levels according to the presence and number of arteries with cerebral atherosclerosis (≥ 50% stenosis). RESULTS: Of 107 patients, 73 (68.2%) had cerebral atherosclerosis. OPG levels were increased in patients with cerebral atherosclerosis (374.69 ± 206.48 vs 261.17 ± 166.91 pg/mL, p=0.006). OPG levels showed positive correlation with the number of cerebral arteries with atherosclerosis (Spearman's rho=0.342, p<0.001). After adjustment for vascular risk factors, OPG>229.9 pg/mL was independently associated with the presence [OR 4.61, 95% CI 1.57-13.55, p=0.005, binary logistic regression] of cerebral atherosclerosis and number [OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.26-8.12, p=0.014, ordinal logistic regression] of arteries with cerebral atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma OPG levels were significantly associated with the presence and severity of cerebral atherosclerosis. This finding suggests that plasma OPG might have a role in cerebral atherosclerosis.