title: Carcinoembryonic antigen concentrations in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana and Institute of Clinical Physiology-CNR, Pisa, Italy. cristina.vassalle@ifc.cnr.it
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vassalle
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pratali
authors.forename: Rudina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ndreu
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Andreassi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen