Plasma levels of free and sulfoconjugated catecholamines in patients with atherosclerosis

We have studied the relationship between free and sulfoconjugated catechola mines (CAs) in the plasma of patients with various cardiovascular diseases and have described the physiological significance of sulfoconjugated CAs in plasma. In the present study, we measured free and sulfoconjugated dopamin e (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) in the plasma of patients with atherosclerosi s (AS). Results showed that the plasma levels of free DA and NA in patients with atherosclerosis were higher than those in control subjects. Moreover, it was also observed that the plasma levels of conjugated DA and NA in pat ients had a tendency to be higher than the levels in control subjects. Thes e results suggest the involvement of free CAs in atherosclerosis and that e levated free CAs may be converted to sulfoconjugated forms in patients with atherosclerosis.