Correlation between myocardial enzyme serum levels and markers of inflammation with severity of coronary artery disease and Gensini score: A hospital-based, prospective study in Greek patients

Original Research

(2285) Views  (1098) Full article downloads

Authors: Vasileios Peppes, George Rammos, Efstathios Manios, Eleni Koroboki, Stylianos Rokas, Nikolaos Zakopoulos

Published Date August 2008 Volume 2008:3(4) Pages 699 - 710

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S3551

Vasileios Peppes, George Rammos, Efstathios Manios, Eleni Koroboki, Stylianos Rokas, Nikolaos Zakopoulos

Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece

Background: Our objective was to associate serum levels of myocardial enzymes and inflammatory biomarkers with severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Patients and methods: 123 patients participated in our study, including 65 cases of acute myocardial infarction (MI), 27 cases of newly diagnosed CAD – without MI – and 31 controls. In all subjects, myocardial serum enzyme levels (creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase) and inflammatory indices (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, white blood cells, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) were measured. Patients were all submitted to coronary angiography and CAD severity was evaluated by Gensini score.

Results: Significant differences concerning enzyme serum levels and inflammatory indices were found to exist between the three study groups, being highest among patients with acute MI (p < 0.001). A significant  association was demonstrated between Gensini score and serum enzyme levels as well as inflammatory biomarkers.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that serum levels of myocardial enzymes and inflammatory indices correlate with CAD severity in Greek patients.

Keywords: myocardial enzymes, inflammation, coronary angiography, coronary artery disease