Factor VII Levels in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography: Factor VII and Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND: Factor VII (F VII) has been widely investigated as a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis, however there is still debate about its role in the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study F VII levels were measured in patients with angiographically proven CAD and its relation with disease severity, coronary events and with other risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis were examined. METHODS: Consecutive patients referred to coronary angiography were divided in three groups: 1. CAD group--those with a significant lesion in one or more coronary arteries (n = 155), 2. High-risk group--patients with normal coronary arteries and with two or more risk factors (n = 54), 3. Controls--patients with normal coronary arteries and with no or one risk factor (n = 90). CAD group was also studied according to the number of vessels involved and to the history of coronary events. RESULTS: Mean F VII levels were not different between the three groups of patients. In CAD group, F VII increased parallel to the number of vessels involved (one vessel disease: 85 +/- 20%, two vessel disease: 92 +/- 23%, three vessel disease: 105 +/- 23%). Patients with a history of coronary events had significantly higher F VII levels than those without such a history (96 +/- 25% versus 89 +/- 22% respectively, P = 0.02). However, logistic regression analysis revealed no significant relation between F VII and either the presence of CAD or coronary events. CONCLUSIONS: F VII levels increase in patients with previous coronary events, but it is not an independent risk factor for the progression or for the severity of CAD.