ABSTRACT
It was the aim of this study to investigate whether there is any relationship between oxidative stress, as assessed by the diacron reactive oxygen metabolite [d-ROM] test, and carotid atherosclerosis among hypercholesterolemic patients. A well-defined group of patients with type II hypercholesterolemia [n = 81, mean age 59 years] was studied to observe the correlation between the levels of serum d-ROMs and carotid artery intima-media thickness [IMT] using B-mode ultrasound, in relation to the traditional atherosclerotic risk factors [age, sex, smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, glucose and lipid panels]. The mean level in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] in this population was 4.45 mmol/l, d-ROMs were 323.2 Carr U, and IMT was 0.91 mm. A multiple regression analysis revealed a positive and significant correlation between IMT and d-ROMs [beta = 0.27, p < 0.05], along with age and LDL-C. These results indicate that the increased oxidative stress levels using the d-ROM test, independent of aging and increased LDL-C levels, may be associated with carotid atherosclerosis even in hypercholesterolemic patients