The levels of osteoprotegerin, transforming growth factor-β, and some cytokines in women with coronary heart disease concurrent with severe osteoporosis

Aim. To determine the serum level of cytokines in women with coronary heart disease (CHD) concurrent with osteoporosis (OP) and in those with isolated CHD; to assess a relationship of the levels of cytokines, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) to the ten-year absolute risk of osteoporotic fractures, the presence of fractures in the history, and that of CHD; and to establish the role of elevated cytokine levels in the development of future fractures. Subjects and methods. A cross-sectional cohort study included 98 women (mean age, 71.2±8.6 years) with CHD. Forty-eight patients had CHD concurrent with severe OP. The Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) was applied to estimate a ten-year absolute risk for fractures in all the patients. The serum levels of OPG, TGF-β, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Results. The women with comorbidity were found to have higher levels of OPG, TGF-β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α than those with isolated CHD. There was a direct correlation between fractures, CHD, and IL-10 and TNF-α levels and an inverse relationship between fractures, CHD, and IL-8; between CHD and OPG levels. Conclusion. The women with comorbidity were noted to have elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and OPG; a correlation was between cytokine levels and fractures and CHD. Increased OPG and IL-6 levels are independent predictors of fractures.

osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, cytokines, osteoprotegerin