Hyperhomocysteinemia and acute phase proteins in various forms of ischemic heart disease

Abstract

Aim. To determine clinical significance of high concentrations of homocystein, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen in various forms of ischemic heart disease. Material and methods. Enzyme immunoassay was made to measure serum concentrations of homocystein, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen in 60 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) in the form of stable effort angina (n = 20), painless myocardial ischemia (n = 19), unstable angina pectoris (n = 21) and 20 control patients free of IHD. Myocardial ischemia was confirmed at dobutamine stress echocardiography. Results. Serum concentrations of homocysteine, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen were higher in patients with unstable angina than in the other examinees with IHD. A statictically significant correlation exists between homocysteine serum levels and acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen) in patients with unstable angina. In the other groups it was absent. Conclusion. Correlation between serum levels of homocysteine and acute phase proteins in patients with unstable angina suggests a direct participation of this amino acid in destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques and development of acute coronary syndromes.

Keywords

• ischemic heart disease
• hyperhomocysteinemia
• c-reactive protein
• fibrinogen
• unstable angina
• stress-echocardiography