Blood serum apolipoproteins B and A-I in females suffering from rheumatic heart valve disease.

OBJECTIVE

With the aim to check whether the atherogenic factors are involved in the mechanisms of valve fibrosis, we have studied the blood serum concentrations of apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and B concentration in patients suffering from rheumatic heart valve fibrosis.

METHOD: The quantities of apoA-I and apoB in the blood serum were tested by the ELISA method. Concentration of apoA-I and B in the blood serum was determined in rheumatic females with replacement of the damaged valves: after aortic valve operation (n=11; mean age 43.3+/-3.6 years) and after mitral valve operation (n=29; 41.3+/-4.1). The results obtained for rheumatic patients were compared with the data on age-matched healthy females (n=43; 39.5+/-5.2 years).

RESULTS

Significantly lower apoA-I level in the blood serum of all patients suffering from rheumatic heart valve disease was determined as compared with controls: in the pooled group of patients (1.02+/-0.22 vs 1.23+/-0.23 g/l, P<0.001), in women after aortic valve replacement (0.98+/-0.21 vs. 1.23+/-0.23 g/l, P<0.005), and in women after mitral valve surgery (1.03+/-0.23 g/l vs 1.23+/-0.23 g/l, P<0.005). The apoB level in patients suffering from rheumatic heart valve disease did not differ from that of controls. The apoB/apoA-I ratio for patients with valve fibrotic damage was significantly higher as compared to controls in all groups (P<0.02). The increase of apoB/apoA-I ratio in patients with rheumatic valve fibrosis was caused by lower apoA-I levels in blood serum.

CONCLUSION

The obtained results indicate that decreased apoA-I levels in blood serum can be indicative of valve fibrosis in rheumatic heart valve disease patients.