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Does serum ferritin correlate with coronary angiography findings?
W C Manfroi1, A J Zago, P R Caramori
1Division of Cardiology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil. manfroi@orion.ufrgs.br
Insights
This study found no independent link between serum ferritin levels and the extent of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing angiography. While initial analysis showed an association, further review indicated ferritin is not a standalone risk factor for significant coronary artery disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Epidemiological studies suggest a link between elevated serum ferritin and coronary heart disease.
- This study investigates the relationship between serum ferritin and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if serum ferritin levels are associated with the angiographic extent of coronary atherosclerosis.
- To assess ferritin as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD).
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 307 patients undergoing coronary angiography.
- Collected data on risk factors, lipids, and serum ferritin levels.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) defined as >50% diameter stenosis.
Main Results:
- 196 patients (63.8%) had significant CAD.
- Significant CAD was associated with ferritin levels, age, male sex, smoking, and cholesterol.
- Multivariate analysis revealed ferritin was not an independent risk factor for CAD (P=0.27).
Conclusions:
- No independent relationship was found between serum ferritin levels and angiographic significant coronary artery disease.
- Ferritin is not an independent predictor of coronary atherosclerosis severity in this patient cohort.
Background:
A number of epidemiological studies have described a positive relationship between serum ferritin levels and coronary heart disease. In this prospective study, we evaluated the association between serum ferritin levels and the angiographic extent of coronary atherosclerosis.
Method:
We studied 307 consecutive patients (60.9% male, age 60.1+/-11.0 years) referred for diagnostic coronary angiography. Risk factors for coronary artery disease, lipids and ferritin levels, as well clinical characteristics were recorded from all patients. Two experienced cardiologists blinded for clinical and laboratory data reviewed the cinefilms. Angiographic significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was defined as any more than a 50% diameter stenosis.
Results:
From the 307 patients, 196 (63.8%) were found to have angiographic significant CAD. The presence of significant CAD was associated with ferritin levels (P=0.015) as well as patient age (P<0.001), male sex (P<0.001), smoking (P<0.002), and cholesterol levels (P=0.028). By multivariate analysis, however, ferritin level was not an independent risk factor for CAD (P=0.27), while the association with all the other factors remained significant.
Conclusion:
In patients referred for coronary angiography no independent relationship was found between angiographic significant coronary artery disease and serum ferritin levels.
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