Haematologica 2004;89: supplement no. 8 - Supplements ...

XVIII Congress of the Italian Society for Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research, Rome, Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 200469Oral CommunicationsVASCULAR RISK FACTORSCO-094THROMBOPHILIC RISK FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERECAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS: GENDER-RELATED DIFFERENCESMarcucci R, Sofi F, Fedi S, Cellai AP, # Lari B,Sestini I, Rogolino A, Pratesi G, Pratesi G, Dorigo W,Abbate R, Gensini GFDipartimento Area Critica Medico Chirurgica,#Dipartimento Cardiologico e dei Vasi; AziendaOspedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, ItalyArterial thromboembolism from carotid plaques isan important pathogenetic mechanism of ischemicstroke. In addition to the identification and treatmentof well-established modifiable risk factors,ongoing prevention efforts include the identificationand validation of novel biochemical and genetic factorsthat increase the risk for cerebrovascular diseaseand stroke. Aim of this study was to determine thethrombophilic risk profile of patients with severecarotid stenosis by evaluating a number of geneticand metabolic risk factors (FII G20210A, FV Leiden,MTHFR C677T polymorphisms, aCL antibodies, Lp(a)and Hcy) in addition to the traditional cardiovascularrisk factors. The study population consisted of615 patients [(410 M/205 F; median age: 73 (26-94)yrs] admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgeryof the University of Florence with severe carotidstenosis, and 615 apparently healthy subjects [(410M/205 F; median age: 73 (31-92) yrs], comparablefor age and sex. At the multivariate analysis adjustedfor age, sex and the classical cardiovascular riskfactors, independent risk factors were elevated Hcyand Lp(a) levels, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodiesand heterozygosity for FII G20210A polymorphismwhich determine a 2- to 6- fold increase in theodds of having severe carotid atherosclerosis. In thesubgroup of women, independent risk factors forsevere carotid atherosclerosis were: high levels ofhomocysteine and Lp(a) and the presence of anticardiolipinantibodies, whereas hyperhomocysteinemia,elevated Lp(a) levels, anticardiolipin antibodies,FII G20210A and MTHFR 677TT polymorphismsremained independent risk factors at the multivariateanalysis performed in the subgroup of men. Theresults of the present study demonstrate that theprevalence of the thrombophilic risk factors is definitelyincreased in patients with severe atherosclerosis.CO-095MORE CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN HCV POSITIVE ITALIANPATIENTS?Boddi M, Chellini B, Marcucci R, Cellai AP, Fedi S,Alessandrello Liotta A, Rogolino A, Attanasio M,Gori AM, Prisco D, Abbate R, Gensini GF,Solazzo V,* Zignego AL*Dipartimento di Area Critica Medico-Chirurgico,*Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, AziendaOspedaliero-Univeristaria Careggi, Florence, ItalyThe existence of a link between HcV infection andincreased risk of atherosclerotic disease has beenrecently suggested by a Japanese cross-sectionalstudy, but not confirmed in two studies on Europeangeneral populations. However, in an Italian populationof patients affected by ischemic heart disease(CHD), HcV infection was an independent risk factorfor CHD. Aim of the study was to evaluate the associationbetween HcV infection and carotid atherosclerosisin 1123 patients consecutively referred tothe Center for evaluation of cardiovascular risk factorsof the University of Florence from 1st January to 31thDecember 2003. HcV positivity was investigated byELISA using a commercial kit. In all HcV + patients(n= 33, 3,3%) and in 86 HcV – patients, matched forage and sex (88 males, 35 females, mean age 67.6±13years) the status of carotid arteries (number ofcarotid plaque and carotid intima-media thickness)was studied by high resolution B-mode ultrasonography(Sonolayer SSA 270A equipped with a 7.5 MHztransducer). In all patients the prevalence of majorrisk factors for carotid atherosclerosis (smoking habit,hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, family historyof premature coronary artery disease (CHD)), levels offibrinogen, C reactive protein (CRP) and Lp(a) lipoprotein)and main liver parenchimal function parameterswere also investigated. In the group of 123 patientsinvestigated, the prevalence of carotid lesions wassignificantly higher in HcV positive (51.3%) than inHcV negative patients (19%, p