Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a link between complex pedal ulcers and poor clinical results after infrainguinal surgical revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to evaluate the influence of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on patency and clinical results after infrainguinal surgical revascularization for chronic limb ischemia. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 150 infrainguinal autologous bypasses performed to infragenicular popliteal artery or tibial vessels in 140 (93%) patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) and in 10 (7%) with disabling claudication. NLR was calculated using blood samples obtained 24 hours preoperatively. The cohort was stratified into 2 groups according to interquartile ranges of NLR: "ELEVATED-NLR" (Quartile 4 N.=37) and "LOW-NLR" (Quartile 1-2-3 N.=113). Reperfused ulcers were described using the WIfI classification. Patency, freedom from MALE and amputation-free survival at 24 months were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate comparisons between NLR groups were performed using the Log-Rank test. Statistical differences on univariate analysis were adjusted in a multivariate model (Cox regression). RESULTS: NLR values were similar between CLTI and claudication. Ischemic ulcers were more frequent, (83.4% vs. 59.3% P<0.01), more severe (W2-3: 37.8% vs. 22.1% P=0.01) and pedal infection was deeper (fI 2-3: 40.5% vs. 18.6% P=0.003) in "ELEVATED-NLR" group. Severe ischemia (I3) was similar between groups. High NLR values were independent predictors of patency loss (HR: 1.77 CI95% [1.01-3.10] P=0.04), MALE (HR: 2.04 CI95% [1.03-4.04] P=0.04) and worse amputation-free survival (HR:2.10 CI95% [1.06-4.14] P=0.03) rates at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: High preoperative NLR values are associated with severe and deep infected ulcers and predicts primary patency loss, higher major adverse limb events and worse amputation-free survival rates on long-term follow-up after infrainguinal surgical revascularization.

Colistina intravesical en el tratamiento de la infección urinaria complicada por Klebsiella pneumoniae BLEE OXA-48 / Intravesical colistin as treatment of complicated urinary infection due to Klebsiella pneumoniae BLEE OXA-48

No disponible

Elevated levels of triglycerides and vldl-cholesterol provoke activation of nlrp1 inflammasome in endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Soluble stimuli present in the plasma of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are capable of directly stimulating intracellular signalling in endothelium. Oxidized-LDL (oxLDL) induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. However, it is not clear how lipid profile affect NLRP1 inflammasome gene expression in endothelial cells. In this study, the effect of cholesterol and TG of plasma of patients with PAD on NLRP1 inflammasome gene expression in human arterial endothelial cells (HAECS) was assessed. METHODS: We included 113 patients with symptomatic PAD. HAECs were stimulated for 2h using the plasma samples of the study participants. The NLRP1 quantification of the transcription was carried out on the 7500 real-time PCR system using the Taqman® Universal PCR Master Mix and Assays on demand. Relative quantification of the NLRP1 expression was carried out using the ΔΔCt (threshold cycle) comparative method. RESULTS: Plasma from patients with elevated VLDL-cholesterol levels (>33.6mg/dL, the median value of the sample) provoked a higher expression of NLRP1 inflammasome in HAECs (RQ=1.15±0.23 vs. 1.05±0.69; p=0.045), as well as plasma from patients with elevated TGs levels (>168mg/dL, the median value of the sample) (RQ=1.15±0.23 vs. 1.05±0.69; p=0.045). A positive correlation was found between NLRP1 inflammasome expression and VLDL-cholesterol plasma levels (r=0.4; p<0.001) as between NLRP1 inflammasome expression and TG levels (r=0.4; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma TG and VLDL cholesterol of patients with atherosclerosis, manifested as PAD, promote the in vitro NLRP1 inflammasome expression in HAECs.

Effect of Simvastatin Treatment on "In Vitro" NLRP1 Inflammasome Expression in Peripheral Arterial Disease.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory stress stimuli in the plasma of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are able to trigger the expression of NLRP1 inflammasome in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Our objective was to elucidate the effect of simvastatin treatment on NLRP1 inflammasome expression in endothelial cells exposed to the plasma of PAD patients. METHODS: The study included 81 patients with PAD, 24 of them treated with simvastatin (20 mg/day) and 57 without statin therapy. HAECs between passages 3 and 6 were stimulated for 2 hr using the plasma samples of the study participants. NLRP1 gene transcription of HAECs exposed to the plasma of PAD patients was quantificated. RESULTS: HAECs exposed to the plasma of PAD patients with simvastatin therapy showed significantly higher expression of the NLRP1 gene compared with those exposed to the plasma of PAD patients without this treatment (relative quantitation [RQ] 1.12 ± 0.06 vs. 1.06 ± 0.07, P = 0.03). Furthermore, HAECs exposed to the plasma of patients with critical limb ischemia and treated with simvastatin responded with a higher NLRP1 expression than those exposed to the plasma of simvastatin-treated patients with claudication (RQ 1.1 ± 0.3 vs. 0.99 ± 0.14, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Simvastatin intake in PAD patients increases in vitro reactivity of NLRP1 inflammasome gene expression in HAECs, especially in critical limb ischemia patients.

Effect of Bosentan on Claudication Distance and Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Hispanic Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Endothelin (ET) is involved in the etiopathogenesis of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We hypothesized that ET antagonism might improve the endothelial function, inflammatory status, and symptoms in PAD. This pilot randomized clinical trial was designed to determine the clinical efficacy, pleiotropic effects, and safety of dual ET-receptor antagonist bosentan in Hispanic patients with PAD presenting intermittent claudication. The Bosentan Population-Based Randomized Trial for Clinical and Endothelial Function Assessment on Endothelin Antagonism Therapy was a 12-month, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, double-blind, proof-of-concept pilot study evaluating the effect of bosentan on absolute claudication distance (primary efficacy end point), flow-mediated arterial dilation, and C-reactive protein levels (primary pleiotropic end points) in patients with PAD with Rutherford category 1 to 2 of recent diagnosis. Secondary end points included ankle-brachial index, subjective claudication distance, and safety. Of the 629 screened subjects, 56 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive bosentan for 12 weeks (n = 27) or placebo (n = 29). Six months after the initiation, a significant treatment effect in flow-mediated arterial dilation of 2.43 ± 0.3% (95% CI 1.75 to 3.12; p = 0.001), absolute claudication distance of 283 ± 23 m (95% CI 202 to 366; p = 0.01), ankle-brachial index of 0.16 ± 0.03 (95% CI 0.09 to 0.23; p = 0.001), and a decrease in C-reactive protein levels of -2.0 ± 0.5 mg/L (95% CI -2.8 to -1.1; p = 0.02) were observed in the bosentan-treated group compared to the control group. No severe adverse effects were found in the bosentan group. In conclusion, in Hispanic patients with intermittent claudication, bosentan was well tolerated and improved endothelial function and claudication distance as well as inflammatory and hemodynamic states.

Aspectos epidemiológicos y carga asistencial de gastroenteritis agudas por Campylobacter y Salmonella / Campylobacter and Salmonella acute gastroenteritis: Epidemiology and health care utilization

Fundamento y objetivo: En Cataluña, los sistemas de notificación y vigilancia no permiten conocer la incidencia real ni la carga asistencial de las gastroenteritis agudas (GEA) bacterianas de origen alimentario por Campylobacter ySalmonella, objeto de este estudio. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio descriptivo de los casos de GEA por Campylobacter y Salmonella en los años 2002 y 2012 en una región de Cataluña, España, identificados a partir de cultivos microbiológicos. Resultados: La incidencia estimada de GEA por Salmonella se redujo un 50% en 2012, y la de Campylobacter, un 20%. Los niños entre 1-4 años fueron los más afectados en ambos períodos. Se observaron diferencias significativas según el microorganismo en la presentación clínica de algunos síntomas y en la duración de la enfermedad. Acudieron al Servicio de Urgencias el 63,7% de los casos, y un 15% requirieron hospitalización, siendo más frecuente entre los casos de salmonelosis. Conclusión: La incidencia de GEA por Campylobacter y Salmonella se ha reducido, pero continúa siendo importante, como lo es la carga asistencial para ambas infecciones. El control de estas dolencias requiere una mayor adecuación de los actuales sistemas de vigilancia epidemiológica (AU)

Background and objective: In Catalonia the current surveillance systems do not allow to know the true incidence or the health care utilization of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) caused by Campylobacter and Salmonella infections. The aim of this study is to analyze these characteristics. Patients and methods: Descriptive study of Campylobacter and Salmonella infections reported in 2002 and 2012 in Catalonia, Spain. We included cases isolated and reported by the laboratory to a regional Surveillance Unit. Results: The estimated incidence of Salmonella and Campylobacter AGE decreased by almost 50% and 20% respectively in 2012. Children between one and 4 years old were the most affected in both years. Significant differences in the clinical characteristics and disease duration were observed betweenCampylobacter and Salmonella. Visits to the Emergency Department and hospitalization rates were 63.7% and 15%, being more frequent among salmonellosis cases. Conclusion The estimated incidence of Campylobacter and Salmonella infections has decreased, however rates are still important, as well as it is the health care utilization in both diseases. Current surveillance systems need appropriateness improvements to reach a better control of these infections (AU)

C-reactive protein and endovascular treatment of lower limb peripheral artery disease: an independent prognostic factor.

PURPOSE: To determine if C-reactive protein (CRP) can predict the outcomes of lower extremity endovascular therapy (EVT) in patients with peripheral artery disease and to calculate a cutoff value that may be useful in identifying patients with a higher risk of EVT failure at 1 year. METHODS: In this prospective single-center study, 121 patients (94 men; mean age 67.7±9.8 years) undergoing EVT of lower limb lesions in an 18-month period were enrolled as a derivation set. In the subsequent 6 months, 53 patients (39 men; mean age 70.1±10.0 years) were enrolled as the validation set. Blood samples were collected before EVT and at 1 month postintervention from both sets of patients to measure CRP levels. The cohorts were followed for 1 year, and data on reinterventions were recorded. A cutoff CRP value was calculated with the highest sensitivity and specificity for EVT failure based on receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The cutoff value was confirmed in the validation set. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to evaluate the independent contribution of CRP levels and other variables to the risk of reintervention; results are given as the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The area under the ROC curve relating preprocedure CRP levels to 1-year reintervention was 0.77±0.05. The highest likelihood ratio corresponded to a pre-EVT CRP value of 9.8 mg/L (likelihood ratio test=133, df=1, p<0.001). Reintervention before the first year after EVT was related to preprocedure CRP levels (HR 1.1, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.2; p<0.001). These results were confirmed in the validation set (HR 1.1, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.18; p=0.008). CONCLUSION: CRP values can be used as an independent marker of EVT outcome. Baseline CRP levels >9.8 mg/L indicate increased risk of secondary interventions, which are often open surgical procedures.

[Campylobacter and Salmonella acute gastroenteritis: epidemiology and health care utilization]. / Aspectos epidemiológicos y carga asistencial de gastroenteritis agudas por Campylobacter y Salmonella.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In Catalonia the current surveillance systems do not allow to know the true incidence or the health care utilization of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) caused by Campylobacter and Salmonella infections. The aim of this study is to analyze these characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Descriptive study of Campylobacter and Salmonella infections reported in 2002 and 2012 in Catalonia, Spain. We included cases isolated and reported by the laboratory to a regional Surveillance Unit. RESULTS: The estimated incidence of Salmonella and Campylobacter AGE decreased by almost 50% and 20% respectively in 2012. Children between one and 4 years old were the most affected in both years. Significant differences in the clinical characteristics and disease duration were observed between Campylobacter and Salmonella. Visits to the Emergency Department and hospitalization rates were 63.7% and 15%, being more frequent among salmonellosis cases. CONCLUSION: The estimated incidence of Campylobacter and Salmonella infections has decreased, however rates are still important, as well as it is the health care utilization in both diseases. Current surveillance systems need appropriateness improvements to reach a better control of these infections.

Pertussis epidemic despite high levels of vaccination coverage with acellular pertussis vaccine

INTRODUCTION: We describe the pertussis epidemic, based only on confirmed whooping cough cases. We have analyzed data on the diagnosis, epidemiology and vaccine history in order to understand the factors that might explain the trends of the disease. METHODS: A descriptive study of the confirmed pertussis cases reported during 2011 in the Vallès region (population 1,283,000). Laboratory criteria for confirmed pertussis cases include isolation of Bordetella pertussis from a clinical specimen or detection of B. pertussis by PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs. RESULTS: A total of 421 pertussis confirmed cases were reported, which was the highest incidence reported in the last decade (33 cases/100,000 people/year in 2011). The highest incidence rate was among infants less than 1 year old (448/100,000), followed by children 5-9 years old (154/100,000). Pertussis cases aged 2 months-1 year were 90% vaccinated following the current DTaP schedule for their age group in Catalonia, and cases of 5-9 years were 87% fully vaccinated with 5 doses of DTaP vaccine. There were no deaths, although 8% of cases were hospitalized. Pertussis was more severe in infants, 30% required hospitalization despite having received the vaccine doses corresponding to their age. Children of 5-9 years were most often identified as primary cases in households or school clusters. CONCLUSIÓN: Despite high levels of vaccination coverage, pertussis circulation cannot be controlled at all. The results question the efficacy of the present immunization programmes

INTRODUCCIÓN: Se describe la epidemia de tos ferina en el año 2011 solo en casos confirmados. Se analizan datos sobre diagnóstico, epidemiología y antecedentes vacunales que podrían explicar las tendencias de la enfermedad. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo de los casos confirmados de tos ferina notificados durante 2011 en la región del Vallès (población 1.283.000 habitantes). Los criterios de laboratorio para confirmación de un caso incluyen el aislamiento de Bordetella pertussis mediante cultivo en una muestra clínica o detección deB. pertussis por PCR en muestras nasofaríngeas. RESULTADOS: Fueron declarados 421 casos confirmados, siendo la incidencia más alta de los últimos 10 años (33 casos por 100.000 personas/año en 2011). La mayor tasa de incidencia fue en niños < 1 año de edad (448/100.000), seguido de los de 5-9 años (154/100.000). Los casos entre 2 meses y 1 año de edad estaban el 90% vacunados con DTaP según el calendario vacunal vigente en Cataluña para esta edad, entre 5-9 años el 87% estaban completamente vacunados con 5 dosis de DTaP. No hubo defunciones, pero el 8% de los casos fueron hospitalizados. La enfermedad fue más grave en < 1 año, y el 30% fueron hospitalizados a pesar de estar bien vacunados para su edad. Los casos de 5-9 años fueron más frecuentemente identificados como casos primarios en los hogares o grupos escolares. CONCLUSIÓN: A pesar de los altos niveles de cobertura vacunal, la circulación de la tos ferina no se puede controlar del todo. Los resultados ponen en duda la eficacia de los programas de inmunización actuales

Attenuation of early atherosclerotic lesions by immunotolerance with ß2 glycoprotein I and the immunomodulatory effectors interleukin 2 and 10 in a murine model.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the effect of cellular and humoral autoimmune response inhibition after immunization with ß2-glycoprotein I (ß2-GPI) and the effect of immunomodulation with interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10 in the development of early atherosclerotic vascular lesion in a murine model. Atherosclerosis is increasingly considered a chronic inflammatory disease with pathogenic autoimmune processes. Regulatory T cells, and their cytokines, have been implicated in the inhibition of the development of atherosclerotic lesions and involved in the immunologic tolerance induction. METHODS: Eight-week-old male C57BL6 LDL-receptor deficient (LDLR(-/-)) mice were fed a cholesterol-rich (2.8%), high-saturated-fat (82%) diet for a week and divided in five groups. The groups received the following intravenous immunizations: group I (control group): one dose of 5 µg ß2-GPI; group II: 5 µg ß2-GPI I and 1 µg IL-2; group III: 5 µg ß2-GPI and 0.75 µg of IL-10; and group IV: 5 µg ß2-GPI, 1 µg IL-2, and 0.75 µg IL-10. The aortas of the mice were assessed 8 weeks after inoculation to determine the aortic lesion size and composition in all groups. RESULTS: ß2-GPI immunization attenuated the early atherosclerotic lesions development compared with the control group (P = .001). Macroscopic and histologic aortic atherosclerotic lesions were significantly decreased in the IL-2 and IL-10-treated groups in ß2-GPI-tolerant mice compared with the ß2-GPI-tolerant group without cytokine injection (P = .001). The association of both cytokines did not provoke a major inhibition in the atherosclerosis development when compared with groups injected with the two cytokines separately. CONCLUSIONS: The immunotolerance induction against ß2-GPI attenuates the development of atherosclerosis lesions in an animal model, enhanced by downregulation of the cellular and humoral autoimmune response provoked by IL-2 and IL-10.

Circulating anti-ß2-glycoprotein I antibodies of peripheral arterial disease patients trigger a genomic overexpression of Toll-like receptor 4 in endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Circulating anti-ß2-glycoprotein I (ABGPI) antibodies are associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and induce the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules and proinflammatory cytokines by endothelial cells. Our aim is to study a transcriptional activation pathway of the innate immune system through the cellular signalling cascade triggered by receptors Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) of endothelial cells after the exposure of these cells to seropositive ABGPI human serum obtained from PAD patients. METHODS: We obtained serum samples from PAD patients and controls without PAD. ABGPI serum titer was detected using indirect immunofluorescence. Our sample was stratified into three groups: group I (PAD and ABGPI titer ≥1:100; n = 15), group II (PAD and ABGPI titer <1:100; n = 15), and control participants (no PAD; n = 15). All serum samples were incubated with human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC) culture. Genomic expression of TLR2 and TLR4 receptors and their shared intracellular signalling molecules, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), and interleukin (IL)-1 receptor-associated kinase (1IRAK1), were measured after the exposure of HAECs to each serum. RESULTS: HAEC genomic expression of TLR4 was higher after the exposure to group I serum than after the exposure to group II serum (log10×10-relative quantification [RQ]: 1.80 ± 0.42 vs 1.37 ± 0.39; P = .01) or control serum (log10×10-RQ: 1.80 ± 0.42 vs 1.09 ± 0.26; P < .01). TLR4 expression was higher in group II than in the control group (log10×10-RQ: 1.37 ± 0.39 vs 1.09 ± 0.26; P = .04). TLR4 expression correlated with MyD88 (r = 0.54; P < .01) and IRAK1 (r = 0.55; P < .01) expression. We recorded a positive correlation between MyD88 and IRAK1 genomic expression (r = 0.58; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that serum from PAD patients with elevated ABGPI antibodies induces a genomic overexpression of TLR4 and its cellular signalling molecules in endothelial cells.

Pertussis epidemic despite high levels of vaccination coverage with acellular pertussis vaccine.

INTRODUCTION: We describe the pertussis epidemic, based only on confirmed whooping cough cases. We have analyzed data on the diagnosis, epidemiology and vaccine history in order to understand the factors that might explain the trends of the disease. METHODS: A descriptive study of the confirmed pertussis cases reported during 2011 in the Vallès region (population 1,283,000). Laboratory criteria for confirmed pertussis cases include isolation of Bordetella pertussis from a clinical specimen or detection of B. pertussis by PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs. RESULTS: A total of 421 pertussis confirmed cases were reported, which was the highest incidence reported in the last decade (33 cases/100,000 people/year in 2011). The highest incidence rate was among infants less than 1 year old (448/100,000), followed by children 5-9 years old (154/100,000). Pertussis cases aged 2 months-1 year were 90% vaccinated following the current DTaP schedule for their age group in Catalonia, and cases of 5-9 years were 87% fully vaccinated with 5 doses of DTaP vaccine. There were no deaths, although 8% of cases were hospitalized. Pertussis was more severe in infants, 30% required hospitalization despite having received the vaccine doses corresponding to their age. Children of 5-9 years were most often identified as primary cases in households or school clusters. CONCLUSION: Despite high levels of vaccination coverage, pertussis circulation cannot be controlled at all. The results question the efficacy of the present immunization programmes.

Results of infrapopliteal endovascular procedures performed in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia and tissue loss from the perspective of an angiosome-oriented revascularization strategy.

Our aim was to describe our experience with infrapopliteal endovascular procedures performed in diabetic patients with ischemic ulcers and critical ischemia (CLI). A retrospective study of 101 procedures was performed. Our cohort was divided into groups according to the number of tibial vessels attempted and the number of patent tibial vessels achieved to the foot. An angiosome anatomical classification of ulcers were used to describe the local perfusion obtained after revascularization. Ischemic ulcer healing and limb salvage rates were measured. Ischemic ulcer healing at 12 months and limb salvage at 24 months was similar between a single revascularization and multiple revascularization attempts. The group in whom none patent tibial vessel to the foot was obtained presented lower healing and limb salvage rates. No differences were observed between obtaining a single patent tibial vessel versus more than one tibial vessel. Indirect revascularization of the ulcer through arterial-arterial connections provided similar results than those obtained after direct revascularization via its specific angiosome tibial artery. Our results suggest that, in CLI diabetic patients with ischemic ulcers that undergo infrapopliteal endovascular procedures, better results are expected if at least one patent vessel is obtained and flow is restored to the local ischemic area of the foot.

Safety and efficacy outcomes of infrapopliteal endovascular procedures performed in patients with critical limb ischemia according to the Society for Vascular Surgery objective performance goals.

BACKGROUND: Objective performance goals (OPGs) are a set of standardized end points generated from well documented historical controls against which new therapeutic procedures may be compared in single-arm studies. Recently, the Society for Vascular Surgery suggested a set of OPGs designed from vein bypass controls that could be used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular devices applied to critical limb ischemia through a noninferiority analysis. Our aim is to analyze the results of infrapopliteal endovascular procedures performed in patients with critical limb ischemia according to these OPG end points. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 121 infrapopliteal endovascular procedures. The tibial intervention was combined with a femoropopliteal angioplasty in 70 procedures. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), major adverse limb events (MALEs), and major amputations at 30 days were recorded as safety outcomes. Freedom from any MALE or perioperative death (Freedom from MALE + POD) and amputation-free survival were calculated as primary efficacy end points at both 12 months and at 8 years. The 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all the end points were calculated to perform a noninferiority comparison using OPGs as the reference. RESULTS: The incidence of MACEs, MALEs, and amputation at 30 days were 5% (95% CI: 2-10% [OPG-MACE <10%]), 2.5% (95% CI: 0.5-7% [OPG-MALE <9%]), and 1.7% (95% CI: 0.2-6% [OPG-major amputation <4%]), respectively. We recorded a freedom from MALE + POD of 76% (95% CI: 67-83% [OPG-MALE + POD >67%]) and an amputation-free survival of 78% (95% CI: 69-85% [OPG-amputation-free survival >68%]) at 12 months. Freedom from MALE + POD and amputation-free survival at 8 years decreased to 60% (95% CI: 49-69%) and to 26% (95% CI: 11-44%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Infrapopliteal endovascular procedures performed in everyday vascular surgery practice could meet the main OPG end points proposed for catheter-based treatment of critical limb ischemia.

Circulating anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies are associated with endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and high nitrite plasma levels in patients with intermittent claudication.

Our aim is to investigate a possible association of circulating anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies (ABGPI) with the endothelial dysfunction, nitric oxide bioactivity dysregulation, and the inflammatory status that surrounds peripheral arterial disease. We carried out an observational translational study, including 50 male patients with intermittent claudication and a healthy control group of 10 male subjects, age and sex matched with the cases. Flow-mediated arterial dilatation (FMAD) was assessed as a surrogate of endothelial dysfunction, and C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was determined as a marker of inflammation. Nitrite plasma levels were measured by colorimetric analysis. Circulating ABGPI titer was detected with indirect immunofluorescence. Titers <1 : 10 represented the reference range and the lower detection limit of the test. Circulating ABGPI titer ≥1 : 10 was detected in 21 (42%) patients and in none of the control subjects (P < 0.01). Patients with ABGPI titer ≥1 : 10 had a lower FMAD (P = 0.01). The CRP levels were higher in patients with ABGPI titer ≥1 : 10 (P = 0.04). The nitrite plasma levels were higher in patients with ABGPI titer ≥1 : 10 (P < 0.01). These data suggest that these circulating ABGPI may collaborate in the development of atherosclerosis; however, further prospective studies are required to establish a causal relationship.