Plasma sialic acid and coronary artery atheromatous load in patients with stable chest pain

Serum or plasma sialic acid and C-reactive protein have recently been shown to be cardiovascular risk factors. Our aim was to determine whether plasma sialic acid or C-reactive protein concentration correlate with atheromatous load on coronary angiography. Plasma sialic acid concentration and plasma C-reactive protein concentration were determined in 128 consecutive patients attending day case coronary angiography. Patients were excluded for previous coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass grafting, recent myocardial infarction, acute or chronic inflammatory disease and proximal occlusions precluding analysis of distal coronary anatomy. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and glucose concentrations were assayed on fasting samples of venous blood. Angiograms were graded according to a semisubjective scoring system. There was no significant correlation between plasma sialic acid (r=0.19, P=0.07), or C-reactive protein concentration (r=0.17, P=0.13) and atheromatous load. There was no significant correlation between sialic acid (P=0.13), or C-reactive protein concentration (P=0.32) and the number of diseased coronary vessels. The difference in plasma sialic acid concentration between those with normal coronary angiograms and those with coronary artery disease did not reach significance (P=0.08). Plasma sialic acid concentration correlated with C-reactive protein (r=0.58, P=0.0001), serum triglyceride (r=0.32, P=0.002), and blood cholesterol concentration (r=0.22, P=0.04). Plasma sialic acid concentration does not correlate with atheromatous load on coronary angiography in patients with stable angina.