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Elevated serum bilirubin levels are inversely associated with coronary artery atherosclerosis

Seung Joo Kang1, Donghee Kim, Hyo Eun Park

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare Research Institute, Seoul National University, Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, South Korea.

Atherosclerosis
|October 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

High serum bilirubin levels are linked to lower rates of coronary atherosclerosis and calcified plaques. This suggests bilirubin may act as a protective biomarker against coronary artery disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • Inverse correlations between high serum bilirubin and cardiovascular disease are suggested.
  • Anti-atherogenic effects of bilirubin require further establishment, particularly regarding coronary plaques and stenosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum bilirubin levels and coronary atherosclerosis.
  • To determine if bilirubin is linked to the presence and severity of coronary plaques and stenosis.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study of 2862 men without cardiovascular disease who underwent coronary computed tomography (CT).
  • Coronary atherosclerosis defined by stenotic lesions, classified by degree (<50% or ≥50%).
  • Serum bilirubin levels categorized as normal (≤1.2 mg/dL) or elevated (>1.2 mg/dL).

Main Results:

  • Elevated bilirubin levels were associated with lower prevalences of coronary atherosclerosis and stenosis ≥50%.
  • Serum bilirubin showed an inverse association with total and calcified plaques in univariate analysis.
  • After adjusting for risk factors, higher bilirubin levels demonstrated a dose-dependent inverse association with coronary atherosclerosis and calcified plaques.

Conclusions:

  • Serum bilirubin levels are inversely associated with coronary atherosclerosis and calcified plaques in a dose-dependent manner.
  • These findings suggest serum bilirubin may serve as a protective biomarker for coronary artery disease.
Abstract

Keywords:
ALTASTAtherosclerosisAtheroscleroticBilirubinCACCICTCoronary stenosisGGTHDLLDLORPlaqueTGalanine aminotransferaseaspartate aminotransferasecomputed tomographyconfidence intervalcoronary artery calcificationgamma-glutamyl transpeptidasehigh sensitive c-reactive proteinhigh-density lipoproteinhs-CRPlow-density lipoproteinodds ratiotriglycerides

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