Association of soluble cell adhesion molecules with ankle-brachial index in a biethnic cohort of predominantly hypertensive individuals

Clin Chem. 2008 Nov;54(11):1788-95. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2008.107003. Epub 2008 Sep 11.

Abstract

Background: Higher plasma concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules have been shown to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. We investigated the association of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) with ankle-brachial index (ABI), a measure of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), in a biethnic cohort of adults without known coronary heart disease or stroke.

Methods: Participants included 1102 blacks (mean age, 63 years; 74% women) and 1013 non-Hispanic whites (mean age, 58 years; 59% women) belonging to sibships ascertained on the basis of hypertension. We measured plasma concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 using high-sensitivity immunoassays and ABI using a standard protocol; PAD was defined as ABI <0.9. We used generalized estimating equations to assess whether sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were associated with ABI and PAD, independently of conventional risk factors.

Results: After adjustment for conventional risk factors, blacks with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations in the highest quartiles had lower ABIs than those in the lowest quartiles (mean ABI 1.02 vs 0.98, P = 0.007, vs 1.02 vs 0.99, P = 0.003, respectively). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations in the highest quartiles were each associated with a higher odds ratio of having PAD, compared with the lowest quartiles: odds ratio (95% CI): 5.2 (1.8-15.2) and 2.2 (1.0-4.8), respectively. In contrast, in non-Hispanic whites, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations were not associated with ABI or PAD.

Conclusions: Higher sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations were independently associated with lower ABI and PAD in blacks, but not in non-Hispanic whites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Ankle / blood supply*
  • Brachial Artery / physiopathology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Ethnicity*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / blood*
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Immunoassay / methods
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / blood*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / blood*
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics

Substances

  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1