RELATION OF SERUM ELASTASE ACTIVITY TO ULTRASONOGRAPHICALLY ASSESSED CAROTID-ARTERY WALL LESIONS AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS - THE EVA STUDY

The potential interest of serum elastase activity (SEA) as a marker of vascular aging and atherosclerosis was studied as part of an epidemio logical study on vascular and cognitive aging (EVA Study). SEA was mea sured in 555 men and 774 women aped 59-71 years with a synthetic subst rate, suc(ala)3pNA, according to a modified enzyme-linked immunosorban t assay (ELISA)-type procedure. The distribution of SEA-values was ske wed to the right in men and women: the mean value was 0.52 +/- 0.55 U/ ml in males and 0.43 +/- 0.52 U/ml for females. This difference could be entirely explained by alcohol consumption. SEA increased strongly w ith alcohol consumption in males and females. It was also positively a nd significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI) and systolic bl ood pressure (SBP). SEA significantly decreased with age in men and wa s not influenced by smoking in either sex. SEA was significantly incre ased in diabetic men compared with non-diabetics and a similar trend, although not significant, was observed in women, When both sexes were combined, the association between diabetes and SEA was independent of other clinical risk factors. No significant associations were observed with intima-media thickness or atherosclerotic plaques assessed by B- mode carotid ultrasonography. Among biological risk factors, triglycer ides (in both sexes) and glucose (in men) appeared the strongest corre lates of increase in SEA. In multivariate analysis, independent determ inants of an increased SEA were age, alcohol consumption, triglyceride s and glucose in men, and alcohol consumption and triglycerides in wom en.