Comparing the sensitivity of pyridoxal-5-phosphate, homocysteine and neopterin in coronary heart disease

Abstract

Blood serum pyridoxal-5-phosphate, homocysteine and neopterin concentrations have been examined in 30 healthy individuals and 87 patients with coronary heart disease, verified by coronary angiography. Patients have been observed before percutaneus transluminal coronary angioplasty (31 patients with one-artery disease, 30 with two- or three-artery disease, 26 with restenosis). Results suggest that lowered serum pyridoxal-5-phosphate concentrations were an earlier indicator of coronary heart disease than increase of serum homocysteine concentration above 15 μmοΙ/L. An increase of serum neopterin concentration appears to be a marker of coronary disease activity rather than a marker of the presence of coronary heart disease.

Keywords

• coronary heart disease
• pyridoxal-5-phosphate
• homocysteine
• neopterin