Can Serum Endocan Levels Predict the Presence and Severity of Coronary Artery Ectasia?

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum endothelial cellspecific molecule-1 endocan levels and coronary artery ectasia (CAE). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 99 patients. According to angiographic data, the patients were divided into 3 groups: 1) patients with isolated CAE (n = 33), 2) patients with documented coronary artery diseases without CAE (n = 33), and 3) those with normal coronary arteries (n = 33). The endocan concentration was measured via the ELISA technique. Results: patients with isolated CAE had significantly lower levels of endocan than did the controls (261.30 ± 61.34 vs 564.58 ± 81.69; P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between endocan levels and the severity of CAE according to the Markis classification (P > 0.05). The patients who used opium had a significantly higher prevalence rate of CAE (65.6% vs 35.3%; P = 0.012). Moreover, in the group with ectasia, by comparison with the non-ectatic group, significantly high levels of serum triglyceride, cholesterol, and LDL levels, as well as low HDL levels, were detected. Conclusions: Among our study population, a decrease in endocan levels was a sensitive and accurate indicator for predicting the presence of CAE, although the level of this marker was not very effective in determining the severity of ectasia. In addition to a drop in endocan expression levels, the use of opium and also an abnormal lipid profile were the other predictors of CAE.