207 - Skin autofluorescence as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis in obese adults (ID 1247)
Abstract
Background and Aims
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) induce inflammation and endothelial dysfunction that lead to arterial stiffness (AS) and endothelial dysfunction. Fluorescent skin AGEs are related to long-term complications of diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis and can be easily assessed by a non-invasive method. We analyzed in healthy adult individuals if skin autofluorescence (SAF) relates to systemic inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis markers.
Methods
Thirty healthy individuals (age 42–74 yo; 20 female, 10 male) with no history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus or smoking were stratified according to the body mass index (BMI) in eutrophic, overweight and obese groups (n=10/group). The intima-media thickness (IMT) was determined by color doppler ultrasound. AS and endothelial vasodilation were noninvasively assessed by determining, respectively, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in the brachial artery by plethysmography. SAF was assessed by AGE reader (AGE Reader, Diagnoptics, Groningen) and C-reactive protein (CRP) by immunoturbidimetry. Data were analyzed by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test, TEST T and Pearson correlation.
Results
CRP is lower in eutrophic (0,10mg/dL) as compared to overweight adult (0,96mg/dL) but not significant in obese group (0,76mg/dL). However the CRP in obese group was positively correlated to right carotid IMT (r=0,879, p=0,001). There is no difference among groups in SAF values (p=0,58). SAF was inversely correlated to FMD (r=-0,662; p=<0,05) in obese individuals.
Conclusions
Skin autofluorescence that reflects AGE levels can be assessed as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis by reflecting endothelial dysfunction in obese adults.
