[Biochemical indicators of coronary arteriosclerosis]

In 251 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, plasma levels of lipids, lipoproteins, apoproteins and nonlipid risk factors as fibrinogen, fibrinolysis time, glucose and uric acid in blood were correlated with the incidence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). There were significant differences between CAD group and controls and between men and women with CAD with respect to the mean lipid values. Among the nonlipid risk factors fibrinogen concentration in CAD patients was significantly higher than in controls. In univariate analysis in men, score for the severity of atherosclerosis was strongly related to the apoB and LDL concentration, less to the HDL and fibrinogen levels and to ratios of total cholesterol/HDL and LDL/HDL. In women severity of the disease correlated with apoB, fibrinolysis time, fibrinogen and triglyceride levels. By stepwise multivariate analysis, in both men and women, apoB was selected as the best discriminator between CAD patients and controls. The results of the study indicate that the levels of apoB may be a more accurate predictor of the severity of CAD than the other biochemical risk factors. The presented data also suggests an association between increased fibrinogen concentration, reduced fibrinolytic capacity and CAD. The values of apoB and fibrinogen as indicators of cardiovascular risk should be assessed in prospective studies.