Relationships of Soluble E-Selectin and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein with Carotid Atherosclerosis in Japanese Men

Aim: E-selectin and C-reactive protein have been linked with carotid atherosclerosis; however, the findings on this association have been inconsistent. Methods and Results: We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the associations of soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and high-sensitivity-CRP (hs-CRP) levels with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in 505 Japanese men aged 60-74 years. Maximum IMT of common (CCA) and internal carotid arteries (ICA) was positively associated with sE-selectin levels after adjustment for age, hs-CRP and other cardiovascular risk factors: means of maximum CCA IMT were 1.12, 1.21 and 1.27 mm for the lowest to highest tertiles of sE-selectin, respectively, p = 0.04, and those of ICA IMT were 1.73, 2.09 and 2.09 mm, respectively, p = 0.009. Maximum IMT of CCA tended to be positively associated hs-CRP levels after adjustment for age, sE-selectin and other cardiovascular risk factors: means of maximum CCA IMT were 1.10, 1.25, and 1.26 mm, for the lowest to highest tertiles of hs-CRP, respectively, p = 0.06. Compared with subjects with the lowest tertiles of sE-selectin and hs-CRP, those with the highest tertiles had a higher prevalence of heterogeneous plaque: multivariable odds ratios were 2.2 (1.0-3.7), p = 0.002 and 1.6 (1.0-2.7), p = 0.046, respectively. Conclusions: Serum levels of sE-selectin and hs-CRP could be biomarkers for atherosclerosis in general populations.