The Relationship Between Adropin Levels and the Slow Coronary Flow Phenomenon

Abstract

There is accumulating evidence that inflammation plays a major role in the development of the slow coronary flow (CSF) phenomenon. In this study, we aimed to study the new biomarker adroin levels as it relates to CSF. Patients who underwent coronary angiography before and had no significant epicardial coronary disease were included in the study. Patients who had thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame counts (TFCs) above the normal cutoffs were considered to have CSF and those within normal limits were considered to have normal coronary flow (NCF). NCF group over the age of 30 were selected from patients with normal coronary arteries. The adropin levels and biochemical profiles of all patients were studied and analyzed with coronary flow parameters. There were 58 patients in the CSF group and 50 patients in the NCF group. The mean adropin level was significantly lower in CSF group than in NCF group (3.2 ± 0.71 vs. 4.9 ± 1.51 ng/mL, p < 0.001).There was a significant correlation between the adropin levels and TFC (r = −0.676, p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that the adropin levels were an independent predictor of the CSF phenomenon (odds ratio = 1.041, 95 % confidence interval: 1.004–1.114, p = 0.014). In this study, we show that patients with CSF have decreased levels of adropin. We further show a strong correlation between the adropin levels and coronary blood flow. We conclude that decreased adropin levels might be a useful tool in predicting CSF in patients who undergo coronary angiography.