Biochemical Parameters of Iron Metabolism and TG/HDL-C Ratio in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

The morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery diseases (CVD) make it a main public health problem and every year billions of Dollars are spent on treating such disease. There are many epidemiological evidences indicate that iron is an essential factor in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms stimulating atherogenesis by iron is still unclear; but it is believed that the likely catalytic role of iron in lipid peroxidation could be an important factor in formation of atherosclerosis lesion.

Serum level of ferritin, transferring and TG/HDL-C ratio were measured in a total of 140 male patients (age ≥ 45 years) who referred to have a diagnostic coronary angiography. Subjects were divided into two groups according to their angiographic results (case group with ≥ 75% and control group < 75% stenosis in one of the coronary arteries).

Mean iron stores concentration were higher in cases (ferritin: 129.8 ± 99 vs 107.7 ± 75 ng/ml and transferrin: 288.8 ± 53.9 vs 285 ± 58.9 µg/dl); however these differences were not statistically significant, but after adjusting basic characteristics, the difference for ferritin was significant (P < 0.05). By grouping ferritin levels in 3 quintile (Q1 ≤ 126, 126 < Q2 ≤ 233, and Q3 > 233) and control of confounding factors, the relationship of ferritin and the number of involved vessels was not significant. Although, the ratio of TG/HDL-C in the case group was higher than controls, but the difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Our findings showed that ferritin, hemoglobin, and TG/HDL-C ratio can be important diagnostic indicators of coronary atherosclerosis progression. But applying the level of ferritin, as a prognostic indicator, in determining the number of involved vessels may be unreliable.