Relationship of oxidized low density lipoproteins to carotid artery intima-media thickness in hypertensive patients.

Oxidation of LDL plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Increased wall thickness precedes plaque formation and noninvasive B-mode ultrasonographic measurement of IMT is considered a useful marker of the development of the carotid atherosclerosis. The present study was designed to assess the association of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in hypertensive patients. Oxidized LDL (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Elisa) and carotid IMT (high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography) were assessed in 74 patients, aged between 45 and 65 years, diagnosticated with arterial hypertension. We observed significantly higher plasma levels of total cholesterol (236.32 mg %), LDL cholesterol (166.92 mg %), triglycerides (180.79 ± 72.05mg %) and low plasma levels of HDL-cholesterol (33.24 ± 7.99 mg %) in all patients. We noticed higher plasma levels of ox-LDL (77.34 mg %) and carotid IMT was increased (1.41 ± 0.31 mm). The statistically analysis done using Pearson’s test and Student’s t – test indicated that there were correlations of ox-LDL with: IMT (p < 0.05, r=0.408), total cholesterol (p <0.05, r=0.498), LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05, r= 0.527), triglycerides (p <0.05, r=) and HDL-cholesterol (p< 0.05, r = -0.442). In conclusion, higher plasma levels of ox-LDL were associated with increased carotid IMT in hypertensive patients. Measurement of plasma Ox-LDL and carotid IMT may represent useful markers for atherosclerosis and may represent potential targets for therapeutic interventions.