Abstract
Background: Markers of inflammation and arterial stiffness are predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and events, but their roles in the mechanisms and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in males have not been fully investigated. This study explored possible associations between inflammatory marker levels and arterial stiffness in males with AAA. Methods: A total of 270 males (191 AAA and 79 controls) were included in the study. Arterial stiffness was assessed using non-invasive applanation tonometry to measure the regional pulse wave velocity between the carotid and femoral arteries and the carotid and radial arteries. Blood samples were obtained, and interleukin-10 (IL-10) and CRP levels were analysed. Results: Subjects with an AAA had higher levels of IL-10 (21.5 ± 14.0 ng/mL versus 16.6 ± 9.3 ng/mL) compared to controls (p = 0.007). In the AAA cohort, subjects with T2DM showed higher levels of IL-10 (26.4 ± 17.3 versus 20.4 ± 13.0, p = 0.036). We observed a positive correlation between PWVcf and CRP in the control group (r = 0.332) but not the AAA group. PWVcf and CRP were negatively correlated (r = 0.571) in the T2DM subjects treated with metformin in the AAA group. Conclusion: Arterial stiffness is related to the degree of inflammation reflected by CRP and IL-10 levels in males with an AAA. IL-10 is negatively correlated with arterial stiffness in these subjects. This finding suggests that IL-10 may decrease arterial stiffness in males with AAA. The negative correlation between CRP and PWVcf in males with T2DM treated with metformin may indicate that metformin influences the arterial wall to decrease stiffness in subjects with AAA.
Highlights
Stiffening in large elastic arteries significantly contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD)and is a well-known independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality [1,2].Inflammation has a considerable role in the development of arterial stiffness
The prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the reported occurrence of symptomatic cerebrovascular disease were similar between the two groups, while hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, and heart diseases were more frequent in the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) cohort
Arterial stiffness in males with AAA is related to the level of inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-10 in a different way than in male subjects without AAA
Summary
Stiffening in large elastic arteries significantly contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD)and is a well-known independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality [1,2].Inflammation has a considerable role in the development of arterial stiffness. Stiffening in large elastic arteries significantly contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is an association between arterial stiffness and inflammation measured as C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in healthy individuals [5] and middle-aged and elderly subjects [6], as well as patients with diabetes [7]. Several conditions characterized by increased systemic inflammation are associated with increased arterial stiffness [8,9,10]; for example, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a form of CVD characterised by chronic inflammation [11]. Males with AAA have increased arterial stiffness compered to controls [16], indicating that increased arterial stiffness may contribute to the overall higher cardiovascular risk seen in patients with AAA [16]
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