Relationship Between Carbohydrate Antigen 125 and Coronary Artery Calcification in Patients without Known Coronary

Kun Fu1, Hua-Dong Liu1, KuerBanJiang MaMuTi2

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland).

Insights

Serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) correlates with coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients without known heart disease. Elevated CA125 may help estimate CAC burden in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerosis.
  • Serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is a known tumor marker, but its role in cardiovascular disease is being explored.
  • Investigating novel biomarkers for CAC is crucial for early detection and risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between serum CA125 levels and CAC score.
  • To determine if CA125 can serve as a predictive marker for CAC in individuals without established coronary artery disease.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 348 patients with chest pain but no known coronary artery disease was studied.
  • Coronary artery calcification (CAC) scoring was performed for all participants.
  • Serum CA125 levels were measured and analyzed in relation to CAC scores using correlation and regression analyses.

Main Results:

  • A significant positive correlation was found between serum CA125 concentrations and CAC scores (r=0.319, p<0.001).
  • CAC scores increased progressively across tertiles of CA125 levels.
  • Serum CA125 was independently associated with CAC score after adjusting for other risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • Serum CA125 levels are significantly correlated with the extent of coronary artery calcification in patients without known coronary artery disease.
  • CA125 may represent a potential non-invasive biomarker for estimating CAC burden in at-risk populations.

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