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Methods: In 300 patients (mean age: 66 years), recruited in 5 centres and representative of the whole RiscAVID population, plasma sCD40L levels were measured by immunoenzymathic methods (R&D systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA) at the time of the enrolment. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data as well as co-morbidity conditions were also registered. The population was followed up for 24 months and overall mortality, CV mortality and CV major non fatal events (acute myocardial infarction, stroke and ictus) were registered. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed adjusted differences in CV morbidity and mortality risk. Moreover, migration of endothelial cells and monocyte superoxide anion production were tested in vitro after incubation with patients’ serum.

Results: Patients were stratified according to plasma sCD40L levels in those with levels below (sCD40L−) and upon (sCD40L+) the median …