Oxidative DNA damage is significantly correlated with flow-mediated dilation in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND

Oxidative DNA damage was increased in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and correlated with the severity of the disease. Endothelial dysfunction plays a major role in atherosclerotic process. The aim of this study was to explore a relation between oxidative DNA damage and endothelial function in patients with CAD.

METHODS

Forty patients with CAD and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Endothelial function was assessed by brachial artery ultrasonography. The DNA damage was determined by comet method.

RESULTS

The DNA damage scores after incubation with repair enzymes were found significantly higher in the patients with CAD (P = 0.04). There was a significant negative correlation between oxidized DNA damage scores and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) measures in the patients with CAD (r = -0.41; P = 0.009). Oxidized DNA damage scores were significantly and independently associated with FMD (standardized beta = -0.455; P = 0.009) when adjusted by age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The DNA damage scores were significantly inversely correlated with FMD measures. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the presence of a relation between DNA damage scores and FMD.