The relationship between plasma neuropeptide Y levels and the severity of coronary artery atherosclerosis as well as left ventricular function

Objective:To investigate the relationship between plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels and the severity of coronary artery atherosclerosis as well as left ventricular function in patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.Methods:Radioimmunoassay was applied to determine NPY levels in plasma.This study included 48 patients with fixed stenosis coronary artery≥50% of luminal diameter in the dominant coronary arteries,and 10 healthy volunteers served as controls.The relationship between plasma NPY levels and the coronary artery score and left ventricular ejection fraction were assessed.Results:Plasma NPY levels in coronary atherosclerotic group and control group were (348 4±46 8) ng/L and (224 2±42 5) ng/L,respectively,and the difference was significant ( P 0 01).Plasma NPY levels were positively correlated with the coronary artery score ( r =0 64, P 0 01),and negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction ( r =0 59, P 0 01).Conclusions:NPY levels in plasma might be related to both the severity of coronary artery atherosclerosis and left ventricular function in patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.The parallel trend between the increase in plasma NPY level and the severity of coronary artery atherosclerosis suggests that NPY appears to be involved in the progression of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and deterioration of left ventricular function.