Relationship of oxidized phospholipids and biomarkers of oxidized low-density lipoprotein with cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory biomarkers, and effect of statin therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes: Results from the MIRACL (Myocardial Ischemia Reduction With Aggressive Cholesterol Lowering) trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to define the relationship between oxidative biomarkers, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and inflammatory and thrombosis biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) on apolipoprotein B particles (apoB) represent a novel biomarker of CVD. Previous studies suggest that an increase in OxPL/apoB reflects a positive response to statins and a low-fat diet.

METHODS: This study measured OxPL/apoB, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) biomarkers, consisting of immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM autoantibodies to malondialdehyde (MDA)-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and IgG and IgM apoB-100 immune complexes (IC/apoB), at baseline and after 16 weeks of treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg/day or placebo in 2,342 patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) enrolled in the MIRACL (Myocardial Ischemia Reduction With Aggressive Cholesterol Lowering) trial.

RESULTS: At baseline, potentially atheroprotective IgM autoantibodies and IgM IC/apoB were lower in male patients, diabetic patients, and patients >65 years of age. Patients with an LDL level greater than the median (122 mg/dl) had higher levels of OxPL/apoB, Lp(a), and OxLDL biomarkers compared with those who had an LDL level less than the median. Atorvastatin resulted in significantly larger changes in all biomarkers in female patients, patients age <65 years, patients with LDL cholesterol <122 mg/dl, nonsmokers, and nondiabetic patients (p < 0.0001 for all). In particular, a significant increase in OxPL/apoB in response to atorvastatin was noted in all 20 subgroups evaluated. Weak or no significant correlations were noted between all OxLDL biomarkers and C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, tissue plasminogen activator, interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecule, vascular cell adhesion molecule, P-selectin, and E-selectin at randomization and 16 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ACS, baseline levels of oxidative biomarkers varied according to specific CVD risk factors and were largely independent of inflammatory biomarkers. Atorvastatin uniformly increased OxPL/apoB levels in all subgroups studied. Future studies are warranted to assess whether the increase in OxPL/apoB levels reflects the benefit of effective therapeutic interventions and prediction of new CVD events.