Investigation of membrane fatty acid profiles in erythrocytes of patients with stable coronary artery disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The association between the erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and the severity of coronary stenosis has not been studied in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate whether the fatty acid profile of erythrocyte membranes is significantly different in patients with stable CAD compared with patients with nonsignificant coronary stenosis and evaluate a possible relationship between fatty acid profile and the severity of coronary stenosis. METHODS: The population included 144 patients, undergoing clinically indicated coronary angiography. The severity of coronary stenosis was scored after coronary angiography, and patients were divided into 2 groups; the S-stenosis group (CAD patients, n = 82) had a significant stenosis indicated by coronary angiography and the second group, S-stenosis (n = 62), had nonsignificant coronary stenosis. RESULTS: The erythrocyte membranes linoleic acid (LA) levels were lower (P < .001) and the arachidonic acid (AA)-to-LA ratio, a marker of desaturase activity, were higher (P < .001) in CAD patients compared with S-stenosis patients. The CAD scores were correlated negatively with the membrane LA levels (r = 0.338; P < .001) and positively with the AA-to-LA ratio (r = 0.306; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that LA levels of the erythrocyte membrane and AA-to-LA ratio are correlated with the severity of CAD (C) 2016 National Lipid Association. All rights reserved.