Redox imbalance in patients with coronary artery disease showing progression of atherosclerotic lesions
Tsuru, R.; Hojo, Y.; Gama, M.; Mizuno, O.; Katsuki, T.; Shimada, K.
Journal of Cardiology 48(4): 183-191
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0914-5087 PMID: 17066621 Document Number: 604695
To clarify the relationship between changes in redox balance and the development of new coronary lesions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We studied 82 CAD patients (70 males and 12 females, mean age 61.8 +/- 9.2 years) who underwent repeated coronary angiography within 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention. Levels of serum lipid peroxide, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity, and the redox state of erythrocyte (ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione, the GSH/GSSG ratio) were measured at the time of follow-up coronary angiography. According to the development of significant stenotic lesions, we divided the patients into two groups: 57 patients without the development of new stenotic lesions (group A) and 25 patients showing new significant stenotic lesions within 1 year (group B). The serum lipid peroxide level in group B was significantly higher than those of group A (2.61 +/- 0.32 vs 1.74 +/- 0.16 nmol/ml, p < 0.01). Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity did not differ significantly between two groups. The erythrocyte GSH/GSSG ratio in group B was significantly lower than that of group A (83 +/- 9.6 vs 126 +/- 7.3, p < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of GSH/GSSG ratio to detect CAD patients with the development of significant coronary stenosis were 80.0% and 61.4%, respectively. CAD patients who showed development of new coronary lesions within 1 year have increased oxidative stress and imbalanced erythrocyte redox state. The GSH/GSSG ratio, an indicator for redox balance, could be a useful marker to identify high-risk CAD patients.