Reduced Apelin Levels in Stable Angina

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change in the plasma apelin level in patients with stable angina. METHODS: The study enrolled 96 patients with stable angina as the Stable Angina Group and another 78 outpatients with no angina as the Control Group. SUBJECTS: were excluded if they had a history of acute coronary syndrome, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, or antecedent hypertension. Plasma apelin levels of all subjects were determined using a commercially available immunoassay. In addition, blood was sampled for measurements of 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2alpha by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of coronary artery stenosis of stable angina patients was evaluated using the Gensini score. RESULTS: The mean levels of apelin in plasma were significantly lower in subjects with stable angina compared with controls (1.24 vs.1.98 ng/mL, p <0.05). The plasma level of apelin in the stable angina group was negatively correlated with the Gensini score (r =-0.399, p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Reduced apelin levels were observed in this homogenous population of stable angina subjects and the plasma apelin level was negatively correlated with the degree of coronary stenosis.