TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations of plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines, fibrinogen, viscosity and C-reactive protein with cardiovascular risk factors and social deprivation
T2 - The fourth Glasgow MONICA study
AU - Welsh, Paul
AU - Woodward, Mark
AU - Rumley, Ann
AU - Lowe, Gordon
PY - 2008/6
Y1 - 2008/6
N2 - Circulating inflammatory markers [plasma fibrinogen, viscosity and C-reactive protein (CRP)] have been associated with cardiovascular risk factors. In part, these associations may reflect 'upstream' changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines - interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α. These variables were measured in 1666 men and women aged 25-64 years and their associations with risk factors were studied. All six markers increased significantly with age. IL-18 and TNFα levels were higher, and fibrinogen levels lower, in males. Oral contraceptive use increased levels of CRP, whilst postmenopausal women had elevated IL-18 levels. Inflammatory markers were also associated with components of the metabolic syndrome. Most inflammatory markers showed an increasing trend with alcohol consumption in men and a decreasing trend in women, and increasing trends with level of smoking. Inflammatory markers generally showed strong positive associations with social deprivation. After adjustment for classical risk factors, IL-6, IL-18 and TNFα retained significant associations with social deprivation only in men (P < 0.008). We conclude that pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with several cardiovascular risk factors including social deprivation, and may mediate some of their associations with 'downstream' inflammatory markers (fibrinogen, viscosity and CRP).
AB - Circulating inflammatory markers [plasma fibrinogen, viscosity and C-reactive protein (CRP)] have been associated with cardiovascular risk factors. In part, these associations may reflect 'upstream' changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines - interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α. These variables were measured in 1666 men and women aged 25-64 years and their associations with risk factors were studied. All six markers increased significantly with age. IL-18 and TNFα levels were higher, and fibrinogen levels lower, in males. Oral contraceptive use increased levels of CRP, whilst postmenopausal women had elevated IL-18 levels. Inflammatory markers were also associated with components of the metabolic syndrome. Most inflammatory markers showed an increasing trend with alcohol consumption in men and a decreasing trend in women, and increasing trends with level of smoking. Inflammatory markers generally showed strong positive associations with social deprivation. After adjustment for classical risk factors, IL-6, IL-18 and TNFα retained significant associations with social deprivation only in men (P < 0.008). We conclude that pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with several cardiovascular risk factors including social deprivation, and may mediate some of their associations with 'downstream' inflammatory markers (fibrinogen, viscosity and CRP).
KW - Alcohol
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Gender
KW - Inflammation
KW - Social deprivation
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2008.07133.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2008.07133.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 18371109
AN - SCOPUS:44249105434
SN - 0007-1048
VL - 141
SP - 852
EP - 861
JO - British journal of haematology
JF - British journal of haematology
IS - 6
ER -