Measures of oxidative stress in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) may be associated with increased oxidat ive stress which may contribute to atherogenesis. Plasma lipid hydroperoxid es (ROOHs), 8-epi PGF(2 alpha) and alpha -tocopherol were measured in norma l subjects and in newly referred heterozygous FH patients and used as indic es of oxidative stress. ROOH levels were higher (+16%), albeit non-signific antly, in FH patients than in controls subjects (4.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 3.8 +/- 0. 3 mu mol/l; n = 51 and 40, respectively). 8-epi PGF(2 alpha) levels were si gnificantly greater (+56%) in the FH patients than in controls (0.43 +/- 0. 06 vs. 0.27 +/- 0.05 nmoI/1; P < 0.05; n = 14 and 16, respectively). FH pat ients with vascular disease had significantly higher (+32%) levels of ROOH compared with patients without vascular disease (4.9 +/- 0.40 vs. 3.7 +/- 0 .33 mu mol/l; P < 0.05; n = 27 and 24, respectively). Similarly, 8-epi PGF( 2 alpha) concentrations were higher (+100%) in the FH patients with vascula r disease than in those without it (0.6 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.10 nmol/l; P < 0.05; n = 6 and 8, respectively). Absolute alpha -tocopherol levels in F H patients were similar to those in controls (21.0 +/- 0.70 vs. 23.8 +/- 1. 30 mu mol/l). When alpha -tocopherol levels were expressed relative to chol esterol, however, the concentrations were found to be significantly lower ( -43%) in FH patients than in controls (2.9 +/- 0.10 vs. 5.1 +/- 0.40 mu mol /mmol, P < 0.0005). There were no differences in absolute or cholesterol st andardised alpha -tocopherol levels in patients with and without Vascular d isease. These data suggest that oxidative stress is increased in FH-patient s and is particularly pronounced in those patients with vascular disease. I t is possible that increased oxidative stress may precede the development o f vascular disease. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reser ved.