Value of Vascular Endothelial Function and Homocysteine in Prediction of Coronary Heart Disease

Objective To investigate the relationships of vascular endothelial function and Homocysteine( Hcy) with coronary heart disease. Methods A total of 177 patients with suspected or confirmed coronary heart disease( CHD) undergoing coronary angiography in our hospital between 2011 and 2012 were included in this study. Those patients with positive result were classified as CHD group( n = 95),and those with negative results were classified as the control group( n = 82). Based on the vessel number of coronary lesions,the CHD group was divided into single- vessel disease subgroup and multi- vessel disease subgroup. The brachial artery flow- mediated dilation( FMD) and carotid intima- media thickness( IMT) were measured with Color Doppler,and serum Hcy level was determined with enzymatic cycling assay. Results The FMD( %) was significantly lower in CHD group than in the control group( P 0. 01); and the Hcy level and the carotid IMT in CHD group were significantly higher than those in the control group( P 0. 01). The FMD in multi- vessel disease subgroup was significantly lower than that in single- vessel disease subgroup( P 0. 01); while the Hcy level and carotid IMT were significantly higher in the multi-vessel disease subgroup than in the single- vessel disease group( P 0. 01). In CHD group,FMD was negatively correlated with serum Hcy level and carotid IMT( r =- 0. 76,- 0. 56; P 0. 01); and the serum Hcy level was positively correlated with carotid IMT( r = 0. 62,P 0. 01). Conclusion Vascular endothelial dysfunction,hyperhomocysteinemia,and carotid IMT thickening are the risk factors of coronary heart disease. Endothelial dysfunction may indicate atherosclerosis caused by hyperhomocysteinemia,which is valuable in the early detection,prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease and can also serve as an indicator in monitoring and evaluating the disease progress.