Changes of plasma redox status in patients with coronary heart disease and its clinical implcations

Abstract

Objective To explore the changes of plasma redox status in patients with coronary heart disease and its clinical implications. Methods One hundred and forty-four patients suspected with coronary heart disease were divided into three groups according to the results of coronary arteriography. Coronary heart disease group (n= 59, group A), coronary atherosclerosis group (n=53, group B), and normal coronary group (n=32, group C). The plasma glutathione (reduced form GSH and oxidized form GSSG) ,oxidized low density hpoprotein cholesterol(ox-LDL-C) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in all patients. The GSH/GSSG redox potential were calculat-ed according to Nernst equation,and their correlation with the severity of coronary artery stenosis and oxLDL-C was analyzed. Results Along with the severity of coronary artery stenosis (from Group C to Group A), GSH, GSH/ GSSG gradually reduced (respectively (321.27±56.80)μmol/L, (309.52±44.97) μmol/L, ( 285.71±38.38) μmol/L;10.56±1.70,9.86±1.58,8.65±1.18 ;F=29.49 and 26.18,P<0.05), whereas GSH/GSSG redox po-tential gradually increased ( (- 142.23±1.35) mV, (-140.41±1.13) mV, (-136.61±1.21 ) mV;F =20.69,P <0.05 )) and redox status deviated to oxidization. The products of oxidative stress oxLDL-C and MDA also increased significantly along with the severity of coronary artery stenosis (respectively (417.24±126.64 ) μg/L, (557.45±171.85) μg/L, (691.96±203, 56 ) μg/L;(2.39±1.24) μmol/L, (3.25±1.37 ) μmol/L, (4.39± 1.52) μmol/L;F=26.28 and 25.39,P<0.05). GSH/GSSG redox potential was positively correlated with oxLDL-C (r=0.798,P<0.05). Conclusions The imbalance of plasma redox status and deviating to oxidization may be closely related with the development and progress of atherosclerosis. Key words: Coronary atherosclerofic cardiopathy; Redox status; Glutathione; Ox-low density lipoprotein cholesterol