title: Diminished serum paraoxonase activity in patients with coronary artery calcification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown an association between paraoxonase (PON) activity and the presence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate any association between serum PON activity and the presence and severity of coronary artery calcification (CAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 156 consecutive patients having the suspicion of coronary atherosclerosis or needing risk stratification for cardiovascular events were included in the present study. Peripheral venous blood samples of all participants to measure serum PON activity were collected before undergoing multidetector computed tomography, which was used to determine the presence and quantity of CAC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum PON-1 levels were lower in the CAC group compared to the no CAC group (60 [35-96] U/L vs. 291 [230-371] U/L, respectively, p < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between total CAC score and PON (r2 = 0.335, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the significant and independent predictors of the presence of CAC were male sex, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, and PON. Similarly, increased PON was significantly and independently associated with freedom from CAC. In receiver operating characteristics analysis, PON level < 197 U/L had 87% sensitivity, 91% specificity, 93% positive predictive value, and 85% negative predictive value in predicting CAC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diminished serum PON activity is significantly and independently associated with the presence and severity of CAC, and vice versa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. drtdurmaz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durmaz
authors.forename: Telat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Nurdan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cay
authors.forename: Nihal A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bilen
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akcay
authors.forename: Kemal E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.forename: Ozcan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erel
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase