Elevated homocysteine levels might be associated with coronary artery remodeling in patients with stable angina: an intravascular ultrasound study.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between plasma biologic markers and coronary artery remodeling is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
Plasma biologic markers are associated with coronary artery remodeling.


METHODS
Preintervention intravascular ultrasound images were obtained in 44 patients with chronic stable angina. Plasma samples were collected 24 h before coronary intervention. The biologic markers included total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, lipoprotein(a) [LP(a)], C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine. The remodeling index (RI) was defined as a ratio of the (lesion/proximal reference) external elastic membrane cross-sectional area. Positive remodeling was defined as an RI > 1.05, negative remodeling as an RI <0.95, and intermediate remodeling as an RI between 0.95 and 1.05.


RESULTS
Total cholesterol level (r = 0.092, p = 0.557), LDL cholesterol level (r = 0.123, p = 0.426), triglyceride level (r = 0.020, p = 0.901), HDL cholesterol level (r = 0.042, p = 0.789), LP(a) level (r = 0.062, p = 0.729), and CRP level (r = 0.266, p = 0.089) did not significantly correlate with the RI. However, the plasma homocysteine level positively correlated with the RI (r = 0.398, p = 0.008). The plasma homocysteine level was significantly lower in the lesions with negative remodeling and higher in the lesions with positive remodeling (10.8 +/- 0.7 micromol/l in negative remodeling, 13.1 +/- 0.6 micromol/l in intermediate remodeling, and 18.1 +/- 2.8 micromol/l in positive remodeling, p = 0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated homocysteine levels might be associated with coronary artery remodeling in patients with stable angina.
Hong
Myeong-Ki
MK
Department of Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Seong-Wook
SW
Lee
Cheol Whan
CW
Choi
Si-Wan
SW
Song
Jong-Min
JM
Kang
Duk-Hyun
DH
Song
Jae-Kwan
JK
Kim
Jae-Joong
JJ
Park
Seung-Jung
SJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein