Background
To identify new therapeutic targets for coronary artery disease (CAD), we investigated whether fasting serum concentration of
apolipoprotein (apo)
B48 could be a marker for CAD.
Methods
Patients with CAD were divided into those with new-onset CAD [i.e., those receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the first time] and those with chronic CAD (i.e., those receiving follow-up coronary angiography). Fasting serum biochemical analyses were performed on admission and 6 months after the PCI.
Results
On admission, serum LDL-C concentrations in patients with chronic CAD (n = 138), presumably receiving statin treatment, were lower than in patients with new-onset CAD (n = 50, p < 0.02) or without CAD (n = 71, p < 0.001). Nevertheless, apoB48 was higher in CAD patients than in those without CAD (p < 0.001). After adjusting for classic cardiovascular risk factors, multivariate logistic regression analyses showed apoB48 to be an independent predictor of coronary risk in new-onset or chronic CAD, irrespective of the LDL-C levels. Moreover, apoB48 was markedly increased during the follow-up period in CAD patients having new lesion progression after the prior PCI.
Conclusion
Fasting serum apoB48 concentration could be a marker of new onset as well as chronic CAD, and predict new lesion progression in secondary prevention.
