Diminished atherosclerotic arterial calcifications in asthma. A possible role for elevated endogenous heparin-like material.

Twenty-seven patients beyond the age of 50 were radiographically compared with age- and sex-matched controls for the degree of calcified atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta and its major pelvic branches. Significantly less calcification was present in the aorta, iliac and hypogastric arteries of the asthmatics (P = 0.01). Previous studies in other asthmatic patients have shown elevated endogenous heparin-like material to be present in their plasma. It is speculated that diminished atherosclerosis in asthmatic patients might be a consequence of elevated circulating endogenous heparin-like material.