title: Gamma glutamyltransferase, inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors in isolated coronary artery ectasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are conflicting data on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in coronary artery ectasia (CAE). It is unclear whether CAE is associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). We therefore investigated major cardiovascular risk factors, serum GGT and hs-CRP levels in a large population of patients with CAE.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 167 patients with isolated CAE and 150 controls with normal coronary arteries were selected from 10505 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Serum GGT and hs-CRP levels were evaluated in addition to cardiovascular risk factors including family history, obesity, smoking, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypertension and obesity were slightly more prevalent in CAE patients than in controls, whereas diabetes was slightly less frequent in CAE patients. Other risk factors were similar. Serum GGT (22 [17-42] vs. 16 [13-21] U/l, p=0.001) and hs-CRP (2.9 [1.9-3.6] vs. 1.4 [1.1-1.8] mg/l, p=0.001) levels were higher in CAE patients than in controls. The presence of CAE was independently associated with diabetes (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.20-0.95, p=0.04), obesity (OR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.07-7.56, p=0.04), GGT (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03-1.12, p=0.001) and hs-CRP levels (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 2.1-4.6, p=0.001). In addition, GGT and hs-CRP levels were higher in diffuse and multivessel ectasia subgroups than focal and single-vessel ectasia subgroups (each p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that CAE can be independently and positively associated with obesity, GGT and hs-CRP levels, but inversely with diabetes. Moreover, its severity may be related to GGT and hs-CRP levels.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medical School, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medical School, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. Electronic address: dr.akifarslan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Akif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medical School, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Habil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medical School, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medical School, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Icli
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medical School, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozaydin
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medical School, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varol
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medical School, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dogan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erdogan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase
keywords: Coronary ectasia; Ectasia coronária; Fatores de risco; Gamma glutamyltransferase; Glutamiltransferase; Inflamação; Inflammation; Risk factors