Serum fetuin-A levels are associated with carotid intima–media thickness in patients with normotensive chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND: There are contradictory reports about the relationship between fetuin-A and atherosclerotic process. Coronary artery disease is the most important cause of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to investigate the association of serum fetuin-A level with mean carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in COPD. METHODS: We evaluated the association of serum fetuin-A level, mean cIMT and ABI in normotensive subjects with COPD (n = 65) and with non-COPD (n = 50). RESULTS: Fetuin-A level was significantly lower (63.5 ± 19.8 ng/mL, 72.9 ± 16.2 ng/mL, p = 0.035) and C-reactive protein level higher (4 [1-10] vs. 3 [1-12] mg/dL, p = 0.034) in COPD patients than the control group. Compared to controls, fetuin-A level was significantly lower (63.5 ± 19.8 ng/mL, 72.9 ± 16.2 ng/mL, p = 0.035) and mean cIMT higher (0.69 [0.50-0.98] vs. 0.62 [0.44-0.98] mm, p = 0.034, respectively) in the COPD group. There was a significant negative correlation between mean cIMT and fetuin-A levels (r = -0.320, p = 0.032). Age (b ± SE: 0.002 ± 0.001, p = 0.008) and fetuin-A (b ± SE: -0.002 ± 0.001, p = 0.035) were decisive for the mean cIMT. CONCLUSIONS: There are increased cIMT values, decreased fetuin-A levels, but unchanged ABI values in patients with normotensive COPD. Age and fetuin-A were predictors for cIMT, while fetuin-A was negatively correlated with cIMT.