Autoantibodies against oxidized low density lipoproteins in patients with stable angina, unstable angina or peripheral vascular disease - Pathophysiological implications

Background Antibody antioxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) might pla y a role both in atherogenesis and in the pathogenesis of acute coronary sy ndromes. Methods and Results Antibody titres to oxLDL and levels of C-reactive prote in were compared in unstable angina, stable angina or peripheral artery dis ease. Antibody titres to LDL oxidated by CuSO4 for 2. 4 and 18 h (Cu-oxLDL- Ab(2-4-18)) or by peroxidase (HRP-oxLDL-Ab) were assessed by ELISA. Cu-oxLD L-Ab(2-4-18) were consistently higher in peripheral artery disease than in unstable angina (P < 0.001. P < 0.001, P = 0.01. respectively) or in stable angina (P < 0.001. P = 0.01. P = ns) but similar in unstable and stable an gina. Accordingly, HRP-oxLDL-Ab were higher in peripheral artery disease th an in unstable angina (P < 0.001) or stable angina (P = 0.04) but similar i n unstable and stable angina. The number or arterial stenoses was higher in peripheral artery disease than unstable and stable angina (P < 0.01). Cu-o xLDL-Ab and HRP-oxLDL-Ab correlated with the severity of atherosclerosis (P < 0.01, R = 0.4: P = 0.02, R = 0.3 respectively). Conversely, C-reactive p rotein levels were higher in unstable than in stable angina (P < 0.001) or in peripheral artery disease (P < 0.03) but similar in stable angina and pe ripheral artery disease and did not correlate with the severity of atherosc lerosis. Conclusion The autoimmune response to oxLDL is likely to play an important role in atherogenesis but not in precipitating acute coronary syndromes. (Eur Heart J 2001; 22: 1572-1577, doi:10.1053/euhj.2000. 2554) (C) 2001 The European Society of Cardiology.