Coronary Artery Disease Biomarker Identified

The presence of high levels of the protein cyclophilin A (CyPA) has been identified as a biomarker and predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a recent study. High CyPA levels were found to be most common among patients with obstructive CAD, as well as in men, post-menopausal women, patients with diabetes, and smokers.

Findings were presented by Ajeya N Ukadgaonkar, MD, on September 1, 2017, at the 19th Annual Cardiology Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
Statins vs Low-Calorie, High-Anti-Inflammatory Diet for CAD
Depression Following CAD Diagnosis Linked to 2-Fold Mortality Risk
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CyPA is released by vascular smooth muscle cells in response to reactive oxygen species. It often indicates oxidative stress and inflammation, making it an important factor in atherosclerosis. However, the correlation between plasma CyPA levels, CAD, and associated risk factors is less established.

To assess this relationship further, Dr Ukadgaonkar and colleagues evaluated the plasma CyPA levels of 205 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG). CyPA levels were tested using the immunoassay based sandwich technique and were compared with CAG results and the traditional risk factors for CAD. Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze data.

Results indicated that median CyPA levels were significantly higher in patients with obstructive CAD, vs patients with non-obstructive CAD and patients with normal coronaries. Additionally, CyPA levels were found to be significantly higher among men, post-menopausal women, patients with diabetes, and smokers.

The researchers observed no statistically significant differences in median CyPA levels with other risk factors like age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and family history.

“CyPA is a strong predictor and emerging biomarker of CAD and an easy, reproducible tool to screen the patients with CAD or suspected CAD,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Ukadgaonkar AN. Plasma cyclophilin A: an emerging biomarker of coronary artery disease. Paper presented at: 19th Annual Cardiology Conference; August 31-September 1, 2017. Philadelphia, PA. http://cardiac.conferenceseries.com/abstract/2017/plasma-cyclophilin-a-an-emerging-biomarker-of-coronary-artery-disease.