Relation between Hypercholesterolemia and Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction

Hypercholesterolemia was frequently associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation.Oxidative stress to the vascular endothelium is a serious causative factor of vascular endothelial dysfunction.We investigated the correlation between hypercholester-olemia and oxidative stress in one hand and P-selectin and IL-6 on the other hand as markers that reflect endothelial status.Asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic 40 Egyptian adult males and females were included in this study. At the same time 20 healthy matched age and sex as controls were included.There was a significant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation as TBARS (p 0.0001) in comparison with control and positive correlation with cholesterol level (p 0.000) and LDL level (p 0.002). Glutathion peroxidase activity showed a significant increase (p 0.000) in comparison with control and positive correlation with cholesterol level (p 0.000) and LDL level (p 0.000)P-selectin and IL-6 as markers for endothelial cells function state were significantly increased in hypercholesterolemic group compared to healthy controls (p 0.000) with a positive correlation with cholesterol level (p 0.000) and LDL level (p 0.000).There was a positive correlation between oxidative stress as lipid peroxidation (TBARS), glutathion peroxidase activity in one hand and P-selectin (p 0.000), (p 0.000) respectively.A positive correlation was found between oxidative stress as lipid peroxidation (TBARS), glutathion peroxidase activity in one hand and IL-6 (p 0.001), (p 0.000) respectively.In conclusion it was found that hypercholesterolemia causes endothelial dysfunction.In addition P-selectin and IL-6 may also be identified as risk factors for cardiovascular disease.