Serum albumin and biomolecular oxidative damage of human atherosclerotic plaques.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of serum albumin (SA) with oxidative damage of human atherosclerotic plaques and the severity of atherosclerosis.

METHODS

Correlation of the levels of SA with those of lipid and protein oxidation of endarterectomy-removed carotid atherosclerotic plaques; SA and plaque oxidative biomarkers comparison between 2 groups of patients with different severity of atherosclerotic carotid stenosis, i.e. <90% (group I) or ≥90% (group II).

RESULTS

SA was strongly inversely correlated with plaque oxidative damage; SA was lower and plaque oxidative damage higher in group II than group I.

CONCLUSIONS

Lowered SA is associated with oxidative damage of atherosclerotic plaques and the severity of atherosclerosis.