title: Investigation of relationship between lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity and coronary atheroma, diagnosed by selective coronary angiography.
abstract: 140 consecutive patients undergoing selective coronary angiography in the investigation of chest pain had fasting blood specimens collected. 24 specimens were unsuitable due to hemolysis or to incomplete coronary angiography studies. In the 116 remaining patients the serum was analyzed for total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and the initial rate of cholesterol esterification. LCAT activity was determined both as the percentage esterification per minute, and as nmols/ml/min. All the coronary angiograms were examined by a single cardiologist who was unaware of the results of the serum tests. Fixed predetermined criteria were used, resulting in all patients being classified as one of four groups. 36 patients had no detectable atheroma, 23 mild, 21 moderate, and 36 severe. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between the presence and severity of coronary atheroma with the patient's age, and an equally strong relationship was found with the patient's total serum cholesterol. No statistically valid correlation could be found between LCAT activity (as determined by esterification in the patient's native serum) and atheroma. Free cholesterol levels also did not correlate with the presence of antheroma. An interesting finding was the presence of severe antheroma in a small number of patients with low normal level of serum cholesterol and high LCAT activity.
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D002784:Cholesterol; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase