INTRODUCTION. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is recently identified cytokine that has been proposed as a link molecule between bone metabolism and arterial calcification. Our previous research revealed that simple obesity is an important factor that accelerates alterations in arterial stiffness and OPG might probably play a role in these processes. Our aim was to assess a relationship between OPG serum levels and indexes of arterial structure and function in women with a simple obesity.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. 30 patients with a simple obesity (females in peri-menopausal period; BMI: 34.2 ± 5.3 kg/m²; age: 55.2 ± 10.6 years) were enrolled in the study. High-resolution ultrasound was used to measure endothelial-dependent flow mediated dilation (FMD), nitroglycerin- mediated dilation (NMD), and the parameters of arterial structural changes: intima-media-thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA); pulse wave velocity (PWV), total arterial compliance (TAC), aorta compliance (AoC), common carotid artery compliance (CCA C) and stiffness index. OPG serum levels were measured by ELISA method.
RESULTS. There were significant correlations between OPG serum levels and age (r = 0.320; p = 0.03), left ventricular mass index (r = 0.387; p = 0.03), IMT (r = 0.397; p = 0.02), and CCA C (r = 0.470; p = 0.01). However, no significant relationship was found between serum OPG levels and endothelial-dependent FMD. In a multiple regression analysis with OPG as the dependent variable, age, IMT, and CCA C were the significant predictors of serum OPG level (p = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS. Circulating osteoprotegerin levels are associated with increased IMT and arterial stiffness in females with simple obesity. It may suggest significant role of the OPG in structural remodeling of arteries. Osteoprotegerin may be an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.