title: Relation between coronary artery calcium score and serum tenascin-C level in patients without known coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) also in subjects without traditional risk factors leads to a search for new risk factors. Tenascin-C (TNC), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein is normally found in very low concentrations in tissues and serum of adults, whereas its expression is enhanced in case of pathological conditions accompanied by inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the relation between coronary artery calcium score (CACS)and serum TNC level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients (age range, 18-75 years) presenting with chest pain but without known CAD were divided according to their CACSs as control (CACS = 0, n = 30), low CACS (CACS between 0 and 400, n = 30), and high CACS (CACS ≥ 400, n = 30) groups. The patients were questioned about risk factors and underwent laboratory analyses for biochemical parameters including TNC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean TNC level was significantly higher in the high CACS group as compared to both the low CACS group and the control group [4.7 (0.03-30.7), 28 (0.7-212) and 84 (2-456) ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.01]. A positive correlation was determined between serum TNC level and CACS (r = 0.641, P < 0.001). In the ROC curve analysis, when the cut-off value for TNC was accepted as 8.09 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity in detecting patients with CACS > 100 (moderate or significant calcification) were 72% and 82%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant relationship was found between CACS and serum TNC level. Thus, measurement of TNC level can be used in determining elevated CACS and thereby the risk for CAD.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ozmen Yildiz
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Caglar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozmen
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karabacak
authors.forename: Oben
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Doven
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D019063:Tenascin / Q000097:blood*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019063:Tenascin; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Atherosclerosis; coronary artery calcium score; coronary artery disease; tenascin-C