Inverse association between circulating levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products and coronary plaque burden.

AIM Low levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) have been reported to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral atherosclerosis. This study explored the relationship between circulating levels of sRAGE and the characteristics of coronary vessels detected by 64-slice computed tomography angiography (CTA). METHODS In this cross-sectional study we included 127 consecutive patients with CAD but without acute coronary syndrome. Quantitative volumetric analysis of the lumen and plaque burden of the vessel wall (soft and calcific components) was performed for the three major coronary vessels. Each component was expressed as a percentage of vessel volume and utilized in per-patient analysis. The patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of calcium volume: non-calcified plaque (NCP) group (calcium volume %=0) and calcified plaque (CP) group (calcium volume % >0). RESULTS In the NCP group, but not in the CP group, simple regression analysis revealed a negative association of total plaque burden % with sRAGE (β=-0.378, p=0.0019) and HDL cholesterol (β=-0.368, p=0.003) and a positive association with creatinine (β=0.258, p=0.041) and male gender (β=0.317, p=0.01). After adjusting for confounding factors, the total plaque burden % remained significantly associated only with sRAGE (β=-0.358, p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS Circulating sRAGE levels are associated in an inverse manner with non-calcified plaque burden, suggesting that it may be related with early atherosclerosis and plaque progression.