Relation between impaired coronary microvascular circulation and plasma atherogenic index in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

Aim: The coronary flow reserve (CFR) is a sign of endothelial dysfunction and early-stage coronary artery disease (CAD). Plasma atherogenic index (PAI) is related to subclinical CAD and may be used as a predictor of cardiovascular mortality. Our aim is to determine CFR and PAI in patients with AS and to investigate whether PAI can be used in the detection of early stage CAD. Methods: The study population comprised 48 patients, who were diagnosed with AS based on modified New York criteria and 35 healthy volunteers. PAI values were calculated with the formula log 10 triglyceride (TG) / high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Results: No difference was detected between the two groups for the demographic variables, including age, sex and BMI. The comparison of the groups for PAI and CFR demonstrated that PAI levels were observed to be significantly higher and CFR levels were observed to be significantly lower in the AS patients (p=0.01, p<0.001, respectively). Correlation analysis revealed that CFR and PAI were negatively correlated (PAI- p<0.0001 r=-0.661). When two groups were formed, one below CFR level 2 and the other above CFR level 2, only PAI was found to increase significantly from the new lipid indices (p=0.004). Conclusion: There is an independent negative correlation between PAI and CFR values. PAI may be useful in identifying AS patients facing high risk of adverse cardiovascular events, and may also enable the early diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Keywords

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Plasma atherogenic index
• Atherosclerosis
• Coronary flow reserve

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