C-Reactive Protein, Uric Acid, and Coronary Artery Ectasia in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is frequently present with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, it is not clear why some patients with CAD progress to CAE while others do not. The pathogenesis of CAE is still poorly elucidated. C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum uric acid are well-known markers of inflammation. We aimed to investigate the possible associations among CRP, uric acid, and CAE in patients with CAD. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively evaluated data from 2400 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Seventy-four patients with CAE and CAD and 124 patients with only CAD detected on coronary angiography examination were included in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associated parameters of CAE in patients with CAD. RESULTS Patients with CAE and CAD were younger than patients with only CAD (63±9.5 vs 66.1±9.4, P=0.028). Male sex was more prevalent in patients with CAE and CAD than in patients with only CAD (86.5% vs 74.2%; P=0.029). CRP and uric acid were higher in patients with CAE and CAD compared to the patients with only CAD (10.9±12.8 vs 6.6±6.4; P=0.004; 5.9±1.4 vs 5.2±1.5; P=0.002, respectively). In multivariate regression analysis, age [P=0.029,OR(95% CI) 0.958(0.921-0.996)], CRP [P=0.010,OR (95% CI) 1.058 (1.014-1.103)], and uric acid [P=0.002,OR (95%CI) 1.527 (1.173-1.988)] were associated with CAE in patients with CAD. CONCLUSIONS The CRP and uric acid levels were higher in patients with CAE and CAD compared to the patients who only had CAD. Also, CRP and uric acid were associated with CAE. These results reflect the higher-grade vascular inflammation relative to atherosclerotic involvement in the presence of concomitant CAE in patients with CAD.