(17-09-09) Diminished Omega-3 Fatty Acids are Associated with Carotid Plaques from Neurologically Symptomatic Patients:

Implications for Carotid Interventions.


Bazan HA, Lu Y, Thoppil D, Fitzgerald TN, Hong S, Dardik A.
Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
The omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are prevalent in fish oil and their cardioprotective effects are thought to be mediated by anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The aim of this study is to determine whether omega-3 fatty acids are associated with carotid plaques from neurologically symptomatic patients. Plaques were obtained from 41 patients (mean age 62 [44 - 84]; 24-asymptomatic, 17-symptomatic). Intra-plaque lipids were assessed with mass spectrometry. Compared to asymptomatic patients, significantly diminished omega-3 fatty acids DHA (545.8+/-98ng/g vs. 270.7+/-19.6ng/g, p=0.0096) and EPA (385.9+/-68ng/g vs. 216.4+/-17.6ng/g, p=0.0189) were found in carotid plaques from neurologically symptomatic patients. However, no differences were found in the levels of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (p=0.2003). Immunohistochemistry and ELISA analysis (CD68(+) cells, 0.461+/-0.04 vs. 0.312+/-0.03, p=0.003) demonstrated an increased inflammatory infiltrate in plaques from neurologically symptomatic, compared to asymptomatic, patients. Carotid plaques from neurologically symptomatic patients are inflammatory and have decreased intra-plaque levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Future trials will determine whether interventions that increase omega-3 fatty acid incorporation into carotid plaques prevent stroke and improve the safety of carotid interventions.

Source: Vascul Pharmacol. 2009 Sep 3.

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