Study On The Relationship Between Plasma Visfatin And Atherosclerosis, Endothelial Function

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathophysiological links between plasma level of Visfatin and endothelial function, and evaluate the value of Visfatin in predicting the development of atherogensis (AS) and endothelial dysfunction.Methods: In the present study, 62 patients, who had undergone coronary angiography and ultrasound detection of carotid and brachial artery, were enrolled. The severities of coronary stenosis and carotid atherosclerosis were determined by Gensini score and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), respectively. The serum levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a new marker of endothelial dysfunction, were determined by HLPC. The Flow mediated dilation (FMD) of brachial artery was also measured by color Doppler ultrasound. Based on the results of coronary angiography and carotid ultrasound, these patients were classified into three groups: control (no AS), mild AS and severe AS groups. The plasma levels of Visfatin were measured. The correlation between Visfatin and carotid IMT, Gensini score were analyzed. Also, the relationship between Visfatin and serum AMDA ,the FMD of brachial artery were investigated.Results: Plasma level of Visfatin in patients with severe AS was significantly higher than those in patients with mild AS or in the control group. Moreover, plasma level of Visfatin was positively correlated with carotid IMTand Gensini score in all enrolled patients. Adjusting for all patient characteristics, we confirmed these findings in multivariate regression analyses. It was concluded through linear regression statistics that Visfatin correlated with carotid IMTand Gensini score, and was negatively correlated with the FMD of brachial artery and serum level of ADMA.Conclusions: (1) The present data firstly find that plasma level of Visfatin, which is markedly increased in the patient with AS, is correlated positively with carotid IMTand Gensini score and can reflected the severity of AS. Our present findings is that Visfatin is closely related to the happen and development of AS. (2) The plasma level of Visfatin is correlated positively with serum ADMA and negatively with the FMD of brachial artery, suggest Visfatin may play a role in endothelial dysfunction...