-Original-

Aortic Arch Calcification Detectable on Chest X-ray Films is Associated with Plasma Diacron-reactive Oxygen Metabolites in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes but without Cardiovascular Disease

Kentaro Watanabe^1,2, Makoto Ohara^2,3, Tatsuya Suzuki², Motoshi Ouchi², Kazunari Suzuki², Masao Hashimoto², Taro Saigusa², Junya Aoyama², Hiroshi Nakano² and Kenzo Oba²

¹Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetology (DNHMED), Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine
²Division of Geriatric Medicine, Nippon Medical School
³Division of Diabetes, Metabolism, and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between aortic arch calcification (AAC) detectable on chest X-ray films and plasma diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) in patients with type 2 diabetes but without cardiovascular disease.
Methods: Forty-nine patients with type 2 diabetes but without cardiovascular disease were evaluated with chest X-ray examinations and divided into those with AAC (n=26) and those without AAC (n=23). Biochemical variables, including plasma levels of d-ROMS, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), were evaluated after an overnight fast. The relationships of AAC with both inflammation and oxidative-stress variables were evaluated.
Results: The plasma level of d-ROMs in subjects with AAC was significantly higher than that in subjects without AAC, whereas plasma levels of hsCRP, PAI-1, and Lp(a) in subjects with AAC were higher, but not significantly so, than those in subjects without AAC. Multivariate linear regression analysis with AAC grade as the dependent variable and plasma levels of d-ROMs, hsCRP, PAI-1, or Lp(a) as independent variables demonstrated a significant association of AAC grade with plasma levels of d-ROMs but not with plasma levels of hsCRP, PAI-1, or Lp(a).
Conclusions: The plasma level of d-ROMs is associated with AAC in patients with type 2 diabetes but without cardiovascular disease. Hence, the results of the present study suggest that AAC in these patients is strongly associated with oxidative stress. Furthermore, patients with type 2 diabetes and AAC may be at high risk for the development and progression of various diabetic complications induced by oxidative stress.

J Nippon Med Sch 2013; 80: 410-419

Keywords
aortic arch calcification, oxidative stress, diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites, type 2 diabetes

Correspondence to
Kentaro Watanabe, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetology (DNHMED), Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
kentaro@med.id.yamagata-u.ac.jp

Received, March 15, 2013
Accepted, May 23, 2013