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Antiendothelial cell antibodies in patients with coronary artery ectasia

Demosthenes G Katritsis1, Theodoros Zografos, Socrates Korovesis

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Athens Euroclinic, Athens, Greece. dkatritsis@euroclinic.gr

Coronary Artery Disease
|July 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Increased IgA antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECA) were found in coronary artery ectasia (CAE) patients, suggesting autoimmunity may play a role in CAE pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Mechanisms of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) pathogenesis remain unclear.
  • Circulating antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECA) are linked to endothelial injury in vasculitis.
  • AECA prevalence in CAE is currently unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of AECA in patients with CAE.
  • To explore the potential role of autoimmunity in CAE pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Coronary angiography identified 27 CAE patients and 30 controls.
  • Serum AECA (IgG, IgM, IgA), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) were measured.
  • Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were also assessed.

Main Results:

  • ANA and ANCA prevalence did not differ between CAE patients and controls.
  • No significant differences in IgG or IgM aCL reactivity were observed.
  • IgA AECA prevalence was significantly higher in CAE patients (37.0%) compared to controls (10%).

Conclusions:

  • A higher prevalence of IgA AECA in CAE patients suggests a potential autoimmune contribution.
  • These findings provide evidence for autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of some CAE cases.
Abstract

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