Abstract-Oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) obviously plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The purpose of the study was to determine whether antibodies against oxidized LDL are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). We determined the serum levels of antibodies against copper-oxidized LDL by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 58 patients with angiographically verified CAD and 34 controls without CAD. The mean antibody level, expressed in optical density units, was significantly higher in patients than in controls (0.150Ϯ0.088 versus 0.094Ϯ0.054, respectively; Pϭ0.00089). In logistic regression analysis, high antibody level against oxidized LDL was associated significantly with CAD (Pϭ0.0114), independent of age (Pϭ0.00137), gender (Pϭ0.0021), body mass index (Pϭ0.5947), triglyceride concentration (Pϭ0.9813), and total cholesterol-high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (Pϭ0.0080) group. Similar analysis in nondiabetic subjects (nϭ79) and in men only (nϭ75) showed analogous results, with only minor changes in P values. The antibody level against oxidized LDL differed significantly between nonsmokers and smokers in CAD patients (PϽ0.00197) but not in controls (PϭNS). In addition, the antibody level against oxidized LDL differed significantly between nonsmokers and smokers in subjects with low HDL cholesterol (Յ0.9 mmol/L) but not in subjects with high HDL cholesterol (Ͼ0.9 mmol/L). In conclusion, elevated levels of antibodies against oxidized LDL were associated with CAD. The data suggest that oxidized LDL plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and suggest a protective function for HDL against LDL oxidation.

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We studied the occurrence of asthma, bronchial wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in 295 young men aged 18-19 years. The relationship of these symptoms to the immediate skin test reactivity was also determined. Symptoms indicating past or current allergy and bronchial wheezing were observed in 36%. The cumulative prevalence of asthma was 2.7%, bronchial wheezing 9% in addition, allergic rhinitis (including allergic conjunctivitis) 20%, and atopic dermatitis (including allergic urticaria) 20%. Positive immediate skin prick test reactions were observed in 50% of the population. Allergic rhinitis was most clearly connected with a positive skin test. This study shows that the respiratory disorders, generally considered to be allergic in origin, and atopic dermatitis are more common in Finland than has been assumed. The results are, however, in accordance with the observations made in other industrialized countries. Susceptibility to asthmatic reactions and allergic symptoms should be taken into account, more so than at present, when mudging the capability of a young man to manage compulsory military service.

Although dyslipidaemia is common after solid organ transplantation (Tx), there are few long-term studies in children. We investigated the prevalence of dyslipidaemia up to 5 years after Tx in 125 children on triple immunosuppression with one of three different well-functioning grafts, kidney, liver, and heart, and 181 controls. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were measured annually. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were also calculated. The risk factors for dyslipidaemia were determined at 3 years. There was a high prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia in all three groups, 50% in the kidney transplantation (KTx) and heart transplantation (HTx) groups and 30% in the liver transplantation (LTx) group. In addition, 50% of KTx patients had high TC. In the Tx groups taken together, the following independent associations were observed: KTx and high pre-Tx TC were associated with high TC, high trough concentration of blood cyclosporine with low HDL-C, and older age at Tx accounted for higher TG. Dyslipidaemia, especially hypertriglyceridaemia, was common 3-5 years after Tx. The aetiology is multifactorial and depends on the transplanted organ.