Published online Dec 15, 2023. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v14.i12.1754
Peer-review started: August 21, 2023
First decision: September 29, 2023
Revised: October 11, 2023
Accepted: November 3, 2023
Article in press: November 3, 2023
Published online: December 15, 2023
Processing time: 114 Days and 22.1 Hours
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death worldwide, and India contributes to about one-fifth of total CAD deaths. The development of CAD has been linked to the accumulation of Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) in heart muscle, which correlates with fibrosis.
To assess the impact of CML and inflammatory markers on the biochemical and cardiovascular characteristics of CAD patients with and without diabetes.
We enrolled 200 consecutive CAD patients who were undergoing coronary angiography and categorized them into two groups based on their serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels (group I: HbA1c ≥ 6.5; group II: HbA1c < 6.5). We analyzed the levels of lipoproteins, plasma HbA1c levels, CML, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and nitric oxide.
Group I (81 males and 19 females) patients had a mean age of 54.2 ± 10.2 years, with a mean diabetes duration of 4.9 ± 2.2 years. Group II (89 males and 11 females) patients had a mean age of 53.2 ± 10.3 years. Group I had more severe CAD, with a higher percentage of patients with single vessel disease and greater stenosis severity in the left anterior descending coronary artery compared to group II. Group I also exhibited a larger left atrium diameter. Group I patients exhibited significantly higher levels of CML, TNF-α, and IL-6 and lower levels of nitric oxide as compared with group II patients. Additionally, CML showed a significant positive correlation with IL-6 (r = 0.596, P = 0.001) and TNF-α (r = 0.337, P = 0.001) and a negative correlation with nitric oxide (r=-4.16, P = 0.001). Odds ratio analysis revealed that patients with CML in the third quartile (264.43-364.31 ng/mL) were significantly associated with diabetic CAD at unadjusted and adjusted levels with covariates.
CML and inflammatory markers may play a significant role in the development of CAD, particularly in diabetic individuals, and may serve as potential biomarkers for the prediction of CAD in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients.
Core Tip: Coronary artery disease (CAD) incidence is substantial in India.Its development is linked to the accumulation of Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML). We assessed the impact of CML and inflammatory markers on biochemical and cardiovascular characteristics in diabetic and non-diabetic CAD patients. Diabetic patients exhibited elevated CML, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin 6 levels with reduced nitric oxide levels. CML levels displayed a significant correlation with interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and nitric oxide. The third quartile of CML was associated with diabetic CAD, suggesting its role as a biomarker in CAD prediction for diabetic and non-diabetic patients.