Xanthelasma is not associated with increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis in normolipidaemia

Abstract

Objectives: Extracranial carotid artery (ECCA) atherosclerosis is well known to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the difference of ECCA atherosclerosis between patients with xanthelasma and control subjects in normolipidaemia. Methods: Carotid atherosclerosis (CA) of 41 (8 males and 33 females) patients with xanthelasma and normolipidaemia, defined as levels of cholesterol below 6.21 mmol/l and triglyceride below 2.26 mmol/l, recruited from Department of Dermatology was compared with that of 85 age‐ and gender‐matched control subjects. The extent and severity of CA were measured by high‐resolution B‐mode ultrasound and expressed as the mean intima‐media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and ECCA plaque score. Mixed‐effects model and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between xanthelasma and CA. Results: Patients with xanthelasma showed significantly higher levels of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels and higher body mass index (BMI) compared with the control group. Mixed models identified age, male gender, smoking and subjects of hypertension with medication, but not the presence of xanthelasma, were associated with an increase of CCA IMT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed subjects of male gender, and hypertension with medication, but not the presence of xanthelasma, associated with thicker IMT, defined as IMT ≥ 75th percentile, or ECCA plaque score ≥ 3. Conclusions: Normolipidaemia with xanthelasma is not significantly associated with CA, but did relate with adverse cardiovascular profiles, such as higher BMI, waist circumference and LDL‐C levels.