Plasma sphingomyelin and longitudinal change in percent emphysema on CT. The MESA Lung study

Abstract

Context: Ceramide causes endothelial apoptosis and emphysema-like changes in animal models.

Objectives: Test if plasma sphingomyelin, a major precursor of ceramide, would predict longitudinal increase in the percentage of emphysema-like lung on computed tomography (CT).

Materials and methods: 3840 participants had their plasma sphingomyelin measured at baseline examination and their pulmonary emphysema measured on cardiac CT scans at baseline and on follow-up visits. Mixed effects models were used to adjust for potential confounders.

Results: One standard deviation increase in sphingomyelin predicted a 0.12% per year (95% CI: 0.02–0.22; p = 0.019) greater increase of percent emphysema.

Discussion and conclusion: Higher plasma levels of sphingomyelin predicted greater annual increase in quantitatively measured percent emphysema.

• Ceramide
• computed tomography
• emphysema
• sphingomyelin

Acknowledgements

Special thanks also are directed to Jaime Madrigano, BE, MPH, ScD (Research Scientist, Earth Institute, Columbia University) for creating the graph of the outside air density by different scanners over the follow up time.

Supplementary material available online

Tables S1–S5 and Figure S1.