Dejan Jakimovski1, Robert Zivadinov1,2, Laura Pelizzari3, Richard W Browne4, Bianca Weinstock-Guttman5, Murali Ramanathan6. 1. Department of Neurology, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center (BNAC), Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. 2. Center for Biomedical Imaging at Clinical Translational Science Institute, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. 3. IRCCS, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy. 4. Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. 5. Department of Neurology, Jacobs Comprehensive MS Treatment and Research Center, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. 6. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA, murali@buffalo.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is associated with worse clinical and radiological outcomes in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and studies show greater MS extracranial arterial vessel pathology. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lipid profile measures on extracranial arterial vessels in PwMS and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: Non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography was conducted on 104 PwMS and 41 HCs. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and vertebral artery (VA) was measured using a semi-automated edge-detection/contouring method at cervical levels C4-C7. The lipid profile was obtained at the time of the scan. Repeated measures analyses adjusted for age, gender, and body mass index were used. RESULTS: In PwMS, age was associated with CCA CSA (F = 7.65, η2 = 0.083, p = 0.007) and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] with VA CSA (F = 13.4, η2 = 0.13, p < 0.001). These associations were not present in HCs. PwMS with Lp(a) ≥30 and ≥50 mg/dL, and within the highest Lp(a) quartile had significantly larger CCA and VA when compared to those with lower Lp(a) threshold values. Total cholesterol and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not associated with CCA or VA CSA. CONCLUSIONS: Lp(a) levels are associated with CSA of major extracranial arterial vessels in PwMS but not in HCs. The clinical and pathological significance of these associations, if any, remains unknown.
BACKGROUND:Hyperlipidemia is associated with worse clinical and radiological outcomes in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and studies show greater MS extracranial arterial vessel pathology. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lipid profile measures on extracranial arterial vessels in PwMS and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: Non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography was conducted on 104 PwMS and 41 HCs. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and vertebral artery (VA) was measured using a semi-automated edge-detection/contouring method at cervical levels C4-C7. The lipid profile was obtained at the time of the scan. Repeated measures analyses adjusted for age, gender, and body mass index were used. RESULTS: In PwMS, age was associated with CCA CSA (F = 7.65, η2 = 0.083, p = 0.007) and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] with VA CSA (F = 13.4, η2 = 0.13, p < 0.001). These associations were not present in HCs. PwMS with Lp(a) ≥30 and ≥50 mg/dL, and within the highest Lp(a) quartile had significantly larger CCA and VA when compared to those with lower Lp(a) threshold values. Total cholesterol and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not associated with CCA or VA CSA. CONCLUSIONS:Lp(a) levels are associated with CSA of major extracranial arterial vessels in PwMS but not in HCs. The clinical and pathological significance of these associations, if any, remains unknown.