Plasma concentrations of apolipoproteins A-I, B and M in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectivesApolipoproteins play important roles in the development of atherosclerosis but their involvement in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is poorly understood. The aim was to investigate whether apoA-I, apoB and apoM are independently associated with AAA.Design and methodsPlasma apoA-I, apoB and apoM were measured in 343 patients with AAA and in 214 elderly apparently healthy control individuals from the background population.ResultsAAA patients had lower apolipoprotein levels, as compared to healthy individuals: apoA-I, 1.62 vs. 2.08 g/L; apoB, 0.91 vs. 1.04 g/L; apoM, 0.72 vs. 0.91 μmol/L (p < 0.0001 for all three). In multivariate analyses, apoA-I and apoB were associated with AAA, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) being 0.53 (0.43–0.64) and 0.86 (0.75–0.998), respectively.ConclusionsApoA-I, apoB and apoM levels were significantly lower in patients with AAA than in the control individuals, but only apoA-I and apoB were independently associated to AAA.