doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000085996.95532.FF
(Circulation. 2003;108:1064.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports |
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Atherosclerosis in Young Males
ARMY Study (Atherosclerosis Risk-Factors in Male Youngsters)
From the Institute for Biomedical Ageing Research (M. Knoflach, M. Kind, G.W.), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Neurology (S.K., J.W.), University Clinics, Innsbruck, Austria; Military Hospital 2 (M.S., M.G.), Innsbruck, Austria; Military Recruiting Bureau (R.S.), Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology (R.v.d.Z.), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Medicine (H.G.), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Central Laboratory for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis (E.J.), University Clinics, Innsbruck, Austria.
Correspondence to George Wick, Institute for Pathophysiology, University Innsbruck, Medical School, Fritz-Piegl-Str. 3, A-6020 Innsbruch, Austria. E-mail georg.wick{at}uibk.ac.at
Received February 7, 2003; de novo received April 18, 2003; revision received May 30, 2003; accepted June 4, 2003.
Background— Necropsy studies suggest that atherosclerosis begins in childhood, but in vivo confirmation of this concept is sparse and limited to selected population samples. Furthermore, new risk concepts of atherosclerosis focusing on inflammation, infections, and immunity have not yet been evaluated in this age group.
Methods and Results— This study was conducted in a sample of 141 17- to 18-year-old white males homogenous in age and sex. In addition to classic risk factors, C-reactive protein and the humoral and cellular immune reactivity to heat-shock proteins (HSPs) were assessed. Intima-media thickness (IMT) was quantified at 4 vessel segments of the carotid and femoral arteries. High IMT was considered to be present if the IMT of at least 1 vessel segment exceeded the 90th percentile. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, cigarette smoking, high diastolic blood pressure, prominent immune reactivity to human and/or mycobacterial HSP60s, alcohol consumption (inverse), and low HDL cholesterol levels were all associated with high IMT. The prevalence of high IMT substantially increased from 0 to 60% when the number of risk conditions in a single individual increased from 0 to 4 (P<0.001 for linear trend).
Conclusions— Our study supports the concept that atherosclerosis begins in the first decades of life and suggests a role of the immune system, especially immunoreactivity against HSP60s, in atherosclerosis of young individuals.
Key Words: aging • atherosclerosis • immune system • lymphocytes
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  K. Ayada, K. Yokota, K. Hirai, K. Fujimoto, K. Kobayashi, H. Ogawa, K. Hatanaka, S. Hirohata, T. Yoshino, Y. Shoenfeld, et al. Regulation of cellular immunity prevents Helicobacter pylori-induced atherosclerosis Lupus, November 1, 2009; 18(13): 1154 - 1168. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Messner, M. Knoflach, A. Seubert, A. Ritsch, K. Pfaller, B. Henderson, Y. H. Shen, I. Zeller, J. Willeit, G. Laufer, et al. Cadmium Is a Novel and Independent Risk Factor for Early Atherosclerosis Mechanisms and In Vivo Relevance Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, September 1, 2009; 29(9): 1392 - 1398. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. S. Rogacev, C. Ulrich, L. Blomer, F. Hornof, K. Oster, M. Ziegelin, B. Cremers, Y. Grenner, J. Geisel, A. Schlitt, et al. Monocyte heterogeneity in obesity and subclinical atherosclerosis Eur. Heart J., August 17, 2009; (2009) ehp308v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. D. Dawson, M. Sonka, M. B. Blecha, W. Lin, and P. H. Davis Risk factors associated with aortic and carotid intima-media thickness in adolescents and young adults: the Muscatine Offspring Study. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 16, 2009; 53(24): 2273 - 2279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. G. Ayer, J. A. Harmer, S. Nakhla, W. Xuan, M. K.C. Ng, O. T. Raitakari, G. B. Marks, and D. S. Celermajer HDL-Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Are Significantly Associated With Arterial Wall Thickness in Children Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, June 1, 2009; 29(6): 943 - 949. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Knoflach, S. Kiechl, D. Penz, A. Zangerle, C. Schmidauer, A. Rossmann, M. Shingh, R. Spallek, A. Griesmacher, D. Bernhard, et al. Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Atherosclerosis in Young Women: Atherosclerosis Risk Factors in Female Youngsters (ARFY Study) Stroke, April 1, 2009; 40(4): 1063 - 1069. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Juonala, J. S.A. Viikari, M. Kahonen, T. Solakivi, H. Helenius, A. Jula, J. Marniemi, L. Taittonen, T. Laitinen, T. Nikkari, et al. Childhood Levels of Serum Apolipoproteins B and A-I Predict Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Brachial Endothelial Function in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 22, 2008; 52(4): 293 - 299. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G.H.M. van Puijvelde, T. van Es, E.J.A. van Wanrooij, K.L.L. Habets, P. de Vos, R. van der Zee, W. van Eden, Th. J.C. van Berkel, and J. Kuiper Induction of Oral Tolerance to HSP60 or an HSP60-Peptide Activates T Cell Regulation and Reduces Atherosclerosis Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, December 1, 2007; 27(12): 2677 - 2683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. L. Hansen, P. W. Gunn, and D. C. Kaelber Underdiagnosis of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents JAMA, August 22, 2007; 298(8): 874 - 879. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. L. Hayman, J. C. Meininger, S. R. Daniels, B. W. McCrindle, L. Helden, J. Ross, B. A. Dennison, J. Steinberger, and C. L. Williams Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Nursing Practice: Focus on Children and Youth: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Committee on Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in Youth of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, and Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism Circulation, July 17, 2007; 116(3): 344 - 357. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. McCrindle, E. M. Urbina, B. A. Dennison, M. S. Jacobson, J. Steinberger, A. P. Rocchini, L. L. Hayman, and S. R. Daniels Drug Therapy of High-Risk Lipid Abnormalities in Children and Adolescents: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in Youth Committee, Council of Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, With the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing Circulation, April 10, 2007; 115(14): 1948 - 1967. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Shamaei-Tousi, J. P. Halcox, and B. Henderson Stressing the obvious? Cell stress and cell stress proteins in cardiovascular disease Cardiovasc Res, April 1, 2007; 74(1): 19 - 28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R.-E. W. Kavey, V. Allada, S. R. Daniels, L. L. Hayman, B. W. McCrindle, J. W. Newburger, R. S. Parekh, and J. Steinberger Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in High-Risk Pediatric Patients: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Expert Panel on Population and Prevention Science; the Councils on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Epidemiology and Prevention, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism, High Blood Pressure Research, Cardiovascular Nursing, and the Kidney in Heart Disease; and the Interdisciplinary Working Group on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research: Endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics Circulation, December 12, 2006; 114(24): 2710 - 2738. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Shamaei-Tousi, J. W. Stephens, R. Bin, J. A. Cooper, A. Steptoe, A. R.M. Coates, B. Henderson, and S. E. Humphries Association between plasma levels of heat shock protein 60 and cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus Eur. Heart J., July 1, 2006; 27(13): 1565 - 1570. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Bernhard, A. Rossmann, B. Henderson, M. Kind, A. Seubert, and G. Wick Increased Serum Cadmium and Strontium Levels in Young Smokers: Effects on Arterial Endothelial Cell Gene Transcription Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, April 1, 2006; 26(4): 833 - 838. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A Grosso, F Veglio, M Porta, F M Grignolo, and T Y Wong Hypertensive retinopathy revisited: some answers, more questions Br J Ophthalmol, December 1, 2005; 89(12): 1646 - 1654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q. Xiao, K. Mandal, G. Schett, M. Mayr, G. Wick, F. Oberhollenzer, J. Willeit, S. Kiechl, and Q. Xu Association of Serum-Soluble Heat Shock Protein 60 With Carotid Atherosclerosis: Clinical Significance Determined in a Follow-Up Study Stroke, December 1, 2005; 36(12): 2571 - 2576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Knoflach, S. Kiechl, A. Mayr, J. Willeit, W. Poewe, and G. Wick Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, and Atherosclerosis in the Bruneck and ARMY Studies Arch Intern Med, November 28, 2005; 165(21): 2521 - 2526. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. S. Tzou, P. S. Douglas, S. R. Srinivasan, M. G. Bond, R. Tang, W. Chen, G. S. Berenson, and J. H. Stein Increased Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Young Adults With Metabolic Syndrome: The Bogalusa Heart Study J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 2, 2005; 46(3): 457 - 463. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. W. Zieske, R. P. Tracy, C. A. McMahan, E. E. Herderick, S. Homma, G. T. Malcom, H. C. McGill Jr, J. P. Strong, and for the Pathobiological Determinants of Atheroscle Elevated Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels and Advanced Atherosclerosis in Youth Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, June 1, 2005; 25(6): 1237 - 1243. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. S. Tzou, P. S. Douglas, S. R. Srinivasan, W. Chen, G. Berenson, and J. H. Stein Advanced Lipoprotein Testing Does Not Improve Identification of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Young Adults: The Bogalusa Heart Study Ann Intern Med, May 3, 2005; 142(9): 742 - 750. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 National High Blood Pressure Education Program Wor The Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents Pediatrics, August 1, 2004; 114(2/S2): 555 - 576. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|