Circulating soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels are associated with angiographic coronary lesion complexity in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND

Angiographic coronary lesion complexity has been reported to predict plaque vulnerability. It is important to develop a noninvasive blood biomarker for accurate prognostication of angiographically complex lesions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

HYPOTHESIS

Serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) levels may be correlated with coronary lesion complexity in patients with CAD.

METHODS

We measured serum sLOX-1 levels in 180 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of CAD. Coronary lesions were classified as simple or complex lesions based on coronary plaque morphology.

RESULTS

Stable CAD patients with complex lesions (n=50) had significantly higher serum sLOX-1 levels than those with simple lesions (n=72), at 0.914 ng/mL (range, 0.489-1.296 ng/mL) vs 0.426 ng/mL (range, 0.195-1.075 ng/mL), respectively, P<0.01. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that sLOX-1 levels were independently associated with the presence of complex lesions in patients with stable CAD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.964, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.149-3.356, P<0.05). Among patients with acute coronary syndrome (n=58), who had significantly higher circulating sLOX-1 levels than stable CAD patients (n=122) at 1.610 ng/mL (range, 0.941-2.264 ng/mL) vs 0.579 ng/mL (range, 0.265-1.172 ng/mL), respectively, P<0.01, sLOX-1 levels were independently associated with the presence of multiple complex coronary lesions (OR: 1.967, 95% CI: 1.075-3.600, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum sLOX-1 levels were associated with complex lesions that might predict vulnerable plaques. This study suggested sLOX-1 might be a useful biomarker of coronary plaque vulnerability in patients with CAD.