SERUM BETA-HEXOSAMINIDASE ISOENZYMES ARE RELATED TO RISK-FACTORS FOR ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN A LARGE POPULATION OF POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Lysosomes are involved in atherogenesis. Therefore we have studied the level of serum beta-hexosaminidase isoenzymes (Hex A and Hex B) in re lation to risk factors for atherosclerosis in a homogeneous population of 886 post-menopausal women. We found a relation with several risk f actors such as serum triglycerides, diastolic and systolic blood press ure, blood glucose, waist/hip ratio and body mass index but not with s erum cholesterol. Also, the mean values for Hex A and Hex B were highe r in smokers than in non-smokers but only the mean value for Hex A dif fered significantly. The relation of serum beta-hexosaminidase isoenzy mes to risk factors might be due to lysosomal over-loading, which give s rise to increased enzyme synthesis and enhanced secretion of lysosom al enzymes to circulation. The subjects in the 95-100 percentile of He x A showed significantly increased frequency of myocardial infarction of their fathers and of stroke in their mothers and the subjects in th e 95-100 percentile of Hex B showed increased frequency of stroke in t heir mothers. Thus the findings of a relation between Hex isoenzymes a nd heredity for vascular disease further stress the significant relati on between Hex isoenzymes and risk factors. Since Hex B is a sensitive marker for alcohol abuse, we also investigated its serum level in sub jects that could be suspected of alcohol abuse. However, we did not fi nd any differences in these subjects compared with the others, possibl y due to the relatively short half-life of Hex B after alcohol withdra wal.