Associations between plasma fibulin-1, pulse wave velocity and diabetes in patients with coronary heart disease

BackgroundDiabetes is related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and arterial stiffness and its consequences may be the factor connecting the two. Arterial stiffness is often measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), but no plasma biomarker reflecting arterial stiffness is available. Fibulin-1 is an extracellular matrix protein, up-regulated in arterial tissue and in plasma in patients with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to evaluate the association between plasma fibulin-1 and arterial stiffness measured by cf PWV in a group of patients with diabetes, and one without, all undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.MethodsPulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse wave analysis including augmentation index (Aix75) was measured in 273 patients, who subsequently underwent a coronary by-pass operation. Plasma samples were drawn and information was gathered on diabetes status, HbA1c, lipids, medication, body mass index, co-morbidities and smoking status. Carotid artery intima-media thickness, as well as estimation of carotid artery plaque burden, and distal blood pressure was also obtained.ResultsSixty three patients had diabetes, and this group had significantly higher levels of plasma fibulin-1, PWV and Aix75, compared to the 210 patients who did not have diabetes. In univariate analysis fibulin-1 and pulse wave velocity were not correlated in either group whereas fibulin-1 in patients without diabetes was correlated to Aix75.ConclusionFibulin-1 and arterial stiffness indices are not directly related in patients with cardiac disease, despite the fact that both measures are increased among patients with diabetes.