Relationship between endothelial dysfunction and serum homocysteine in patients with coronary lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial dysfunction and serum homocysteine (HCY) level in patients with coronary lesions.


METHODS
Serum HCY, serum nitric oxide (NO), plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), and circulation endothelial cell (CEC) were measured in 76 patients who received coronary angiography. Fifty-four patients with a stenosis of 50% or more at least in one coronary atery were as coronary artery disease (CAD) group. Other 22 cases with no recognizable plaque and/or stenosis were as control group. HCY level was detected using an enzyme immunoassay kit. NO concentration was measured using a nitrate reductase kit. Radio-immunoassay was applied to analyse the ET-1 level, and CEC was measured by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The levels of HCY, ET-1, and CEC in patients with coronary lesions were significantly increased in comparison with control group (P < 0.01), while NO level in CAD group was significantly lower compared with that in control (P < 0.01). Using a multivariate stepwise regression analysis, HCY level had a positive correlation with ET-1 level (r = 0.420, P < 0.05) and CECs number (r = 0.423, P < 0.05); and had a negative correlation with NO/ET-1 (r = -0.403, P < 0.05). But there was no significant correlation between HCY and NO levels.


CONCLUSIONS
HCY might lead to endothelial cell injury, which would provide a plausible mechanism for the relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia and development of coronary artery disease. HCY can be considered as a predictor for preliminary or active coronary lesion.
Chen
Zhe
Z
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100020. cz8088@yahoo.com
Li
Chun-sheng
CS
Zhang
Jian
J
Pang
Bao-sen
BS
Xia
Cheng-qing
CQ
Liu
Xi-feng
XF
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002452:Cell Count; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1; D006710:Homocysteine; D009569:Nitric Oxide