Evaluation of iron status in patients with coronary artery disease

Background: Iron can causes lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro. Iron  promotes myocardial injury in experimental animals. Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation by oxidants including iron have a central role in atherosclerotic process. By this means, evaluation of serum iron in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) has a significant importance. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional, prospective study, 112 patients with C.A.D and 63  cases without CAD, with known coronary anatomy by coronary angiography, were evaluated. Serum iron, ferritin, Lipoprotein (a), LDL, HDL were measured in their fasting blood sample with elisa kite. patien's were also evaluated for known CAD risk factors eg. diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cigarette smoking family history of CAD and hyperuricemia. Patients with anemia, renal and hepatic disease, history of malabsorption, hemochromatosis, chronic infection, inflammatory or immunological disorders, known neoplastic disorders and heart failure were excluded Both groups were identical in socioeconomic status.  Results: Mean serum iron level in case group (with C.A.D) was 12.9+4umol and in control group (without CAD) was 8.1+5umol, there was significant difference between these valuse (P<0.001). Mean serum ferritin level in case group was 126+75ug/L and 101+75ug/L in control group. There was also significant difference between these values P<0.005.  Conclusion: Regard to the results of this study that shows serum iron and ferritin level were significantly higher in groups with CAD, without interference of other known risk factros, it may be possible that iron status of body can play a role in atherosclerotic process. Keywords: Coronary atherosclerosis, ferritin, serum iron