OP.8A.02] SHORT TELOMERES, BUT NOT TELOMERE ATTRITION RATES, ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Abstract

Objective: Short leukocyte telomere length is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the causal relation between leukocyte telomere length and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is unclear. The objective of this work was to assess, in a longitudinal study, the relation between leukocyte telomere length and carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Design and method: Telomere length was measured by Southern blots at baseline and at follow-up (9 years later) in 219 French men and women (aged 31–81 years at baseline). Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were quantified by echography. Results: At baseline, shorter leukocyte telomere length was associated with development of carotid atherosclerotic plaques (p < 0.05), with the number of regions with plaques (p < 0.01) and with early onset (< 55 years of age) of plaques (p < 0.05). Telomere attrition during the 9-year follow-up period was 25 ± 18 bp per year. No association was observed between telomere attrition rate and presence, number and age of onset of carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Conclusions: Short telomeres observed in subjects with carotid artery plaques precede the development of atherosclerosis and is not a consequence of a higher telomeric attrition as compared to controls. Our study suggests that short leukocyte telomere length might be an independent risk factor for the development of carotid atherosclerosis.