title: The relationship between serum bilirubin concentration and coronary artery ectasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathophysiology of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) has not been clearly identified, although multiple abnormalities including arteritis, endothelial dysfunction, and atherothrombosis have been reported. Several studies have demonstrated that higher serum bilirubin inhibits the inflammation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells; also there is a relationship between serum bilirubin and cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between bilirubin and CAE is still unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We compared serum bilirubin concentration between CAE patients and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 50 CAE patients (20 male, mean age: 60.26 ±10.6 years) and 30 control persons (10 male, mean age: 57.86 ±11.6 years). These participants underwent concurrent routine biochemical tests and leukocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count in whole blood. These parameters were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of basic characteristics. Total, direct and indirect serum bilirubin levels were significantly lower among persons with CAE patients than controls (0.37 ±0.4 vs. 0.71 ±0.6 and 0.13 ±0.1 vs. 0.27 ±0.2 and 0.24 ±0.2 vs. 0.43 ±0.4 mg/dl; all p<0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed a relationship between serum bilirubin and CAE.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Education and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Department, Bursa Şevket Yılmaz Education and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Education and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keçeoğlu
keywords: bilirubin; coronary artery ectasia; endothelial dysfunction; inflammation