Heparin Cofactor II is an Independent Protective Factor against Peripheral Arterial Disease in Elderly Subjects with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Ken-ichi Aihara; Hiroyuki Azuma; Masashi Akaike; Hirotsugu Kurobe; Nobuyuki Takamori; Yasumasa Ikeda; Yuka Sumitomo; Sumiko Yoshida; Shusuke Yagi; Takashi Iwase; Kazue Ishikawa; Masataka Sata; Tetsuya Kitagawa; Toshio Matsumoto

doi:10.5551/jat.E695

Original Articles

Heparin Cofactor II is an Independent Protective Factor against Peripheral Arterial Disease in Elderly Subjects with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Ken-ichi Aihara, Hiroyuki Azuma, Masashi Akaike, Hirotsugu Kurobe, Nobuyuki Takamori, Yasumasa Ikeda, Yuka Sumitomo, Sumiko Yoshida, Shusuke Yagi, Takashi Iwase, Kazue Ishikawa, Masataka Sata, Tetsuya Kitagawa, Toshio Matsumoto

Author information

Ken-ichi Aihara
Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Hiroyuki Azuma
Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Masashi Akaike
Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Hirotsugu Kurobe
Cardiovascular Surgery, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Nobuyuki Takamori
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Health Insurance Naruto Hospital.
Yasumasa Ikeda
Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Yuka Sumitomo
Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Sumiko Yoshida
Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Shusuke Yagi
Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Takashi Iwase
Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Kazue Ishikawa
Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Masataka Sata
Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Tetsuya Kitagawa
Cardiovascular Surgery, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.
Toshio Matsumoto
Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences.

Keywords: Thrombin, Heparin cofactor II, Peripheral arterial disease

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2009 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 127-134

DOI https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.E695

View "Advance Publication" version (April 30, 2009).

Details

Abstract

Aim: Heparin cofactor II (HCII) specifically inactivates thrombin action at the injured vascular wall. We have reported that HCII is a protective factor against coronary in-stent restenosis and carotid atherosclerosis; however, it is unclear whether there is any correlation between plasma HCII levels and the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Methods: Plasma HCII activity and the ankle brachial pressure index (ABI) were determined in 494 elderly subjects with cardiovascular risk factors. PAD was diagnosed by ABI below 0.9, and 62 subjects were diagnosed with PAD. The relationship between factors that affect cardiovascular events and the prevalence of PAD was statistically evaluated.
Results: Mean HCII activity in PAD subjects was significantly lower than in non-PAD subjects (87.5±19.7% v.s. 94.6±17.8%, p=0.009). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.062, p=0.0016), current smoking (OR 3.028, p=0.002) and diabetes mellitus (OR 2.656, p=0.008) were independent and progressive determinants of PAD. In contrast, HCII was an independent inhibitory factor of PAD (OR: 0.982, p=0.048).
Conclusions: Plasma HCII activity is inversely related to the prevalence of PAD. HCII may function as the sole protective factor against PAD in elderly people with cardiovascular risk factors.

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