Carcinoembryonic antigen concentrations in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), one of the most widely used tumor markers, has been recently associated with carotid atherosclerosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether CEA concentrations have a role in coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
Serum CEA concentrations were evaluated in 89 patients, including 50 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (Group I, 44 with acute myocardial infarction, six with unstable angina, 38 males, 65 ± 2 years) and 39 patients with stable CAD (Group II, 33 males, 66 ± 3 years). In addition, 33 subjects (16 males, 62 ± 2 years) were also included as a control group (Group III).


RESULTS
ACS was significantly associated with increased mean CEA concentrations (3.1 ± 0.3 vs. 1.75 ± 0.1 and 1.7 ± 0.2 ng/mL in Groups I, II and III, respectively, p < 0.001). Increased CEA concentrations remained an independent determinant for ACS (OR=3.1, 95% CI=1.2-7.9, p < 0.05) after correcting for other significant risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
CEA might represent a potential new candidate biomarker for the prediction of risk associated with ACS.
Vassalle
Cristina
C
Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana and Institute of Clinical Physiology-CNR, Pisa, Italy. cristina.vassalle@ifc.cnr.it
Pratali
Lorenza
L
Ndreu
Rudina
R
Battaglia
Debora
D
Andreassi
Maria Grazia
MG
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen