Avaliação do perfil lipídico na doença arterial periférica Evaluation of lipid profile in the peripheral arterial disease

Objective: The aims of this study were to analyze the lipid profile in peripheral arterial disease and to evaluate its influence, as well as the age factor in the obstructive and aneurysmal peripheral arterial disease. Method: A total of 124 individuals were studied, 62 patients with peripheral arterial disease confirmed by angiography, divided into patients with obstructive peripheral arterial disease and patients with aneurysmal peripheral arterial disease, and 62 control individuals. The serum levels of lipoprotein (a), triglycerides, total cholesterol, and lowdensity (LDLc), high-density (HDLc) and very low-density (VLDLc) lipoprotein cholesterol fractions were measured. Results: Desirable levels of total cholesterol, LDLc, VLDLc, and triglycerides were detected in both groups. However, patients with obstructive peripheral arterial disease and the control group showed mean levels of triglycerides (175.8 ± 36.1 mg/dl and 169.7 ± 41.5 mg/dl, respectively) significantly higher when compared to the aneurysmal peripheral arterial disease group (138.4 ± 28.9 mg/dl; P = 0.001). The mean levels of HDLc were significantly lower in patients with obstructive peripheral arterial disease (35.2 ± 15.3 mg/dl) and aneurysmal peripheral arterial disease (33.1 ± 10.7 mg/dl) when compared to the control individuals (41.5 ± 11.8 mg/dl; P = 0.010). The levels of lipoprotein (a) were high in all three groups. There was an association of obstructive peripheral arterial disease and increased levels of LDLc, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) and decreased levels of HDLc and age. On the other hand, increased levels of triglycerides, lipoprotein (a), and age and decreased levels of HDLc and LDLc were associated to aneurysmal peripheral arterial disease. Conclusion: In conclusion, reduced levels of HDLc only in patients with peripheral arterial disease confirm its effect in protecting against the disease. High levels of LDLc and low age are associated with obstructive peripheral arterial disease, while increased age seems to be related with aneurysmal peripheral arterial disease.