PRACTICE

This study is examining skin cholesterol levels in South Asians. Interim data has confirmed previous clinical evidence that skin cholesterol provides new information about heart disease risk independent of blood cholesterol and other traditional risk factors.

Skin cholesterol was evaluated in 300 patients with proven CAD, 90% of whom were taking statins. Patients were examined at baseline and annual clinic visits. Other novel markers of risk measured in the study included hs-CRP, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein B and measures of insulin sensitivity. Key findings included that:

• Skin cholesterol provided new information about CAD risk;
• Skin cholesterol levels were elevated in high-risk subjects, demonstrating a positive correlation to angina (p=0.01) and diabetes (p=0.001) when adjusted for age and race;
• Serum, or blood, markers were not positively correlated with prior stroke, angina or diabetes; and
• Skin cholesterol values were higher in Caucasians than in non-Caucasians (p=0.002)

Further studies evaluated skin cholesterol and C-reactive protein (CRP) in 301 patients.  Patients with high levels of skin cholesterol in combination with high levels of CRP were found to be at almost twice the risk of having metabolic syndrome, even after adjusting for age and gender.  Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of at least three out of five risk factors, including increased waist circumference, elevelated levels of triglycerides, low levels of HDL, blood pressure and impaired fasting glucose.  Patients affected by metabolic syndrome are significantly more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

View Abstract - Skin Tissue Cholesterol Associated with Angina, Diabetes and                      History of Stroke/TIA in Subjects with Coronary Artery Disease

View Abstract - Skin Tissue Cholesterol and C-Reactive Protein are Associated                       with Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

View Abstract - Elevated Skin Tissue Cholesterol and C-Reactive Protein are

                     Associated with Increased Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in

                     High-Risk Subjects