Iranian Heart Association Iranian Heart Journal 20 3 2019 07 01 Can Serum Endocan Levels Predict the Presence and Severity of Coronary Artery Ectasia? 20 26 101859 EN Iman Shojaei Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IR Iran. Gholamreza Asadikaram Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences and Department of Biochemistry, Afzalipur Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IR Iran. Mohammad Masoumi Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IR Iran. Journal Article 2018 10 08 Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum endothelial cellspecific molecule-1 endocan levels and coronary artery ectasia (CAE). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 99 patients. According to angiographic data, the patients were divided into 3 groups: 1) patients with isolated CAE (n = 33), 2) patients with documented coronary artery diseases without CAE (n = 33), and 3) those with normal coronary arteries (n = 33). The endocan concentration was measured via the ELISA technique. Results: patients with isolated CAE had significantly lower levels of endocan than did the controls (261.30 ± 61.34 vs 564.58 ± 81.69; P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between endocan levels and the severity of CAE according to the Markis classification (P > 0.05). The patients who used opium had a significantly higher prevalence rate of CAE (65.6% vs 35.3%; P = 0.012). Moreover, in the group with ectasia, by comparison with the non-ectatic group, significantly high levels of serum triglyceride, cholesterol, and LDL levels, as well as low HDL levels, were detected. Conclusions: Among our study population, a decrease in endocan levels was a sensitive and accurate indicator for predicting the presence of CAE, although the level of this marker was not very effective in determining the severity of ectasia. In addition to a drop in endocan expression levels, the use of opium and also an abnormal lipid profile were the other predictors of CAE.

https://journal.iha.org.ir/article_101859_3c52a0fdc5d11d7c0f62dbde5b8b75eb.pdf