Can ICAM and VCAM predict the severity of coronary artery diseases in stable angina?

BACKGROUND: Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the world. Vascular inflammation is the noticeable risk factor of ischemic heart disease. In this study, the relation between the intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) and vascular adhesion molecule (VCAM) were evaluated as the inflammatory indicators of the coronary involvement extent. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 82 patients with stable angina were studied. Patients were all candidates for angiography. Individuals with acute coronary syndrome, recent surgery, inflammatory disease, drug consumption, kidney and liver disease, phlebitis and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) were excluded. Blood sampling was performed for biochemical analysis of VCAM and ICAM. Coronary angiography was then conducted via standard method. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 58.4 ± 10.1 years and males constituted 72% of the studied population. Mean values of ICAM and VCAM were 183.9 ± 78 and 150.3 ± 136 ng/dl, respectively. There was not any correlation between VCAM and ICAM and the severity of coronary artery disease. In linear regression analysis, even with considering hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes as cofounders, there was not any relation between these factors and cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: According to our findings, inflammatory markers (VCAM and ICAM) did not add any further information about the extent of cardiovascular disease.