Risk factors of coronary artery disease with special emphasis on myeloperoxidase: A hospital-based case–control study

Background: One of the prominent risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) is myeloperoxidase (MPO). It is a leukocyte derived enzyme, associated with plaque formation in multiple ways. It can activate protein cascades and also activates pathways that lead to formation of plaque. Objective: The objective of this study was to study risk factors of CAD. Materials and Methods: Hospital-based case–control study was carried out among 50 cases and 50 age and sex matched controls over 2 years. Both groups underwent laboratory tests like MPO and lipid profile parameters such as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), low density lipoproteins (LDLs), high density lipoproteins (HDLs), very LDLs (VLDLs). Both the groups were compared for these parameters. Results: Both the groups, cases and controls were comparable for age and sex. The mean age was slightly more in controls compared to cases, but the difference was not found to be statistically significant ( P > 0.05). The proportion of males and females in both the groups was also found to be not significantly different. The MPO value was significantly more in cases compared to controls ( P < 0.05). Similarly, all the lipid profile values such as TC, TG, HDL, LDL, VLDL and the LDL/HDL ratio were significantly raised in cases compared to the controls ( P < 0.05). Thus, indicating that the raised MPO and lipid parameters are prominent risk factors for CAD. Conclusion: The MPO values were very high in the cases compared to controls. Similarly, all the lipid parameters were also raised. Thus, the raised MPO and raised lipid parameters were found to be risk factors of CAD.