Is Triglyseride/ HDL Ratio A Reliable Screening Test for Assesment of Atherosclerotic Risk in Patients With Chronic Inflammatory Diseases?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:The term chronic inflammatory disease (CID) refers to a category of inflammatory diseases that includes Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events is greater among patients with CID, though they may not have conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the underlying fundamental mechanisms that trigger development of atherosclerotic alterations in arteries, and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) is a noninvasive method to determine endothelial dysfunction. Recent studies have shown a relationship between high triglyceride high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and coronary atherosclerosis. Many studies have demonstrated that patients with CID have lower FMD values compared to healthy population, indicating endothelial dysfunction. However TG/HDL ratio and its relationship to FMD in patients with CID has not been investigated. The present study investigated whether TG/HDL ratio in CID patients differs from that of healthy population, and its relationship to FMD in patients with CID.METHODS:A total of 58 patients with CID and a group of 58 healthy volunteer individuals were enrolled in the study. FMD measurements were taken with high resolution ultrasound (US), and TG/HDL ratios were calculated.RESULTS:Patients with CID had significantly higher TG/HDL-C ratio (2.5 [2.2–2.8] vs 2.3 [2.1–2.5]; p=0.03) and lower FMD values (5.2 [4.2–6.3] vs 6.7 [6.3–9.7]; p<0.001), compared to healthy group, and a negative correlation was found between FMD levels and TG/HDL ratio of the study population.CONCLUSION:Higher TG/HDL ratio and lower FMD values found in CID patients may reflect increased atherosclerotic risk.

Vitamin D status, serum lipid concentrations, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms in Familial Mediterranean fever

“…We also observed these differences between FMF patients in the acute attack and those in attack-free period. Our findings are consistent with the results reported by Acay et al [14] and Keles et al [13]. However, we found no association of BsmI, FokI, and TaqI polymorphisms with serum lipids.…”

“…Another study showed that FMF patients had lower concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-C compared to controls [38]. In addition, higher triglyceride to HDL-C ratio was found in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, including FMF [13]. In this study, higher triglyceride and lower HDL-C concentrations were observed in FMF patients compared to control group.…”

“…Experimental and clinical studies also demonstrated the role of inflammation in the development of cardiovascular events. Moreover, different factors, such as serum lipid changes and endothelial dysfunction, were associated with cardiovascular events [13]. Recent studies showed that FMF patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular events compared with healthy controls, due to increased inflammation and altered serum lipid profile, but discordant results have also been reported on the serum lipid levels in FMF [14,15].…”

The Triglyceride/HDL Ratio and Triglyceride Glucose Index as Predictors of Glycemic Control in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

“…The serum triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio, known as atherogenic index of plasma, is one of the major risk factors for CVD and metabolic syndrome (6). Higher TG/HDL C ratio has been associated with the presence of endothelial dysfunction (7). Furthermore, TG/HDL-C ratio has been proposed as a marker of insulin resistance (8).…”

Tacrolimus reduces atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE-/- mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles

“…Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS) and search effective therapeutic methods. At present, the specific mechanism of AS remains unclear, and most scholars regard it as a chronic inflammatory response (4)(5)(6). Mononuclear macrophages have the most significant role in formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and the germinal cells of the innate immune system, which exist in each stage of atherosclerotic lesions (7,8).…”