title: Antioxidant status and levels of antioxidant vitamins in coronary artery ectasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a rare coronary artery anomaly. In this study, we investigated superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities, and antioxidant vitamin levels (vitamins A and E) in patients with CAE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients who were diagnosed with CAE using coronary angiography were included in the study (26 men; mean age, 57 ± 9 years). The control group consisted of 35 participants who had normal coronary arteries as shown by coronary angiography (14 men; mean age, 54 ± 7 years). The plasma activity of SOD, GSH-Px, GGT, and levels of vitamins A and E were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma SOD activity was significantly lower in the CAE group compared with the control group (0.70 ± 0.64 vs. 1.52 ± 0.85 U/ml; P=0.001). The serum GGT activity was higher in the CAE group compared with the control group (34 ± 20 vs. 26 ± 13 U/ml; P=0.04). There were no significant differences in the plasma GSH-Px activity and vitamin A and E levels. There was a positive correlation between SOD activity and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (r=0.418; P=0.01). There was also a positive correlation between vitamin E and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=0.410; P=0.01) and triglyceride levels (r=0.310; P=0.04) in patients with CAE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, patients with CAE had a decreased SOD plasma activity and an increased GGT activity compared with normal controls. These results suggest that oxidative stress and antioxidant status may have an important role in the pathogenesis of CAE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medical School, University of Gaziosmanpasa, Tokat, Turkey. drfatkoc@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalay
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ardic
authors.forename: Kerem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozbek
authors.forename: Atac
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Koksal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ceyhan
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kadi
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karayakali
authors.forename: Semsettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Altunkas
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Onalan
authors.forename: Mehmet G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kaya
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000097:blood*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase