Abstract 11437: Circulating Anti-Elastin Antibody and Arterial Disease Characteristics: Association With Arterial Stiffness and Atherosclerosis
Objectives: Elastin is a major structural protein of arteries and elastin derived peptide is known to be related to arterial change. We previously reported a novel assay for anti-aortic elastin antibody, but its clinical implication has not been clearly shown. The aim of this study was to check if anti-aortic elastin antibody titers may reflect the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) or its detail characteristics. Methods: This study included 174 CAD patients and 171 age-, sex-matched control subjects. In all subjects, anti-aortic elastin antibody titer was quantified by ELISA. Parameters of arterial stiffness including augmentation index (AI) and heart to femoral pulse wave velocity (hfPWV) were measured non-invasively. In patients with CAD, clinical and angiographic characteristics were evaluated. Associations between anti-aortic elastin and vascular characteristics were identified by linear regression analysis. Results: Median blood level of anti-aortic elastin was significantly lower in the CAD group than that of the control group (197 a.u. vs. 63 a.u., p<0.001). Levels of anti-aortic elastin were significantly lower in males, subjects with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, or hfPWV (Figure). However, the levels were not dependent of atherothrombotic events or angiographic severity of CAD (Figure). In multivariate analysis, male (β=-0.38, p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (β=-0.62, p<0.001), hyperlipidemia (β=-0.29, p<0.001), and AI (β=-0.006, p=0.02) were finally identified as determinants for anti-aortic elastin levels (Table). Conclusions: Taken together, lower levels of anti-aortic elastin are related to CAD. The association between antibody titer and CAD is linked to arterial stiffness rather than advancement of atherosclerosis.