Fw: +ANA linked to risk of coronary artery disease

[Guest guest]

From Nurse Boone (RN):

----- Original Message -----

From: " by way of ilena rose " <Boone1289@...>

Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 11:06 AM

Subject: +ANA linked to risk of coronary artery disease

Many of the women have high ANA titers, and I found this abstract

interesting. Below the abstract, I have listed more information. There

are things that women can do to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease,

CAD. ls of the Rheumatic Diseases 2002;61:110-114 High titres of

serum antinuclear antibodies, mostly directed against nucleolar antigens,

are associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis D J Grainger1

and H W L Bethell2 1 Department of Medicine, Box 157, Addenbrooke's

Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK 2 Department of Cardiovascular

Medicine, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ,

UK Correspondence to: Dr D J Grainger, Department of Medicine, Box 157,

Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK; Accepted 7 Sep

2001 ABSTRACT Background: Inappropriate inflammation is a key

mechanism in the development of atherosclerosis. Antibodies against

components of the atherosclerotic lesion, in particular, oxidised low

density lipoprotein, have been described. Objective: To determine whether a

systemic autoimmune response, characterised by the presence of high titres

of antinuclear antibodies, is associated with the presence of coronary

atherosclerosis. Methods: Serum was prepared from 40 subjects (aged

53'Äì76) with at least 50% stenoses of three main coronary arteries (TVD

subjects), and 30 subjects (aged 48'Äì74) with no evidence of coronary

atherosclerosis (NCA subjects) determined by coronary angiography. Results:

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA), characterised by immunofluorescent detection

of human antibodies bound to HEp-2000 cells, were detected at a titre of at

least 1/40 in 28 (70%) of the TVD subjects, but only five (17%) of the NCA

patients (odds ratio 11.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.91 to 17.82;

p<0.001)). Most ANA positive TVD subjects had a pattern typical of

antibodies directed against nucleolar antigens. The antigen has not yet

been identified, but several common extractable antigens were excluded. The

presence of ANA was not associated with incidence of prior myocardial

infarction among the TVD group. Conclusion: The presence of ANA, commonly

associated with autoimmune diseases, is substantially more prevalent among

subjects with severe coronary atherosclerosis than those with normal

coronary arteries. This association merits further assessment as a

potentially useful indicator of increased risk of coronary heart disease.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----

------------------------------------------- More info: Atherosclerosis

occurs when your arteries narrow and become less flexible because

cholesterol, fatty substances, cell waste products, calcium and fibrin 'Äî

collectively called plaque 'Äî collect their inner walls. The arteries

respond to the buildup by becoming inflamed, and this causes scar tissue

and other cells to form in the affected areas, further narrowing the

artery. Causes: * elevated cholesterol levels * elevated triglyceride

levels * high blood pressure (hypertension) * cigarette smoke Risk

factors for developing cardiovascular diseases: *diet *smoking *diabetes

also is a major risk factor *stress *middle-aged and elderly people

*family history is one of the biggest risk factors overall * obesity *

inactivity * post-menopausal status

<http://www.ivillagehealth.com/library/nwh/content/0,4482,215912_226970,00.h

tml>

Click here: Atherosclerosis If the hyperlink does not work, here is

one site.

http://www.ivillagehealth.com/library/nwh/content/0,4482,215912_226970,00.ht

ml