The relationship between plasma viscosity and the degree of coronary artery calcification in the multi-slice computed tomography

摘要

The classical risk factors explain the occurrence of only approx. 50% of cardiovascular events. This indicate that there must be other, unrecognized, causes of arterial plaque formation. Comprehensive studies on the relationship between inflammatory markers as: C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α have shown only a weak or even lack of correlation with degree of coronary artery calcium score (CS). The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the CS and plasma viscosity; to our knowledge, this is the first research on the subject. Studied group consisted of people referred for evaluation of the CS to confirm the presence or absence of coronary artery disease. The CS index was assessed using 64 slices computed tomography according to the Agatston algorithm. Blood viscosity was determined by oscillatory method (BioProfiler - Vilastic Scientific, Inc.). In addition all patients had the analysis of total cholesterol, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein. In thirty-seven patients the CS rate was zero, and these patients have been assigned to Group I (free of coronary atherosclerosis). Group II consisted of the 45 patients with calcification index greater than 10. Plasma viscosity and fibrinogen were higher in the group with coronary calcifications compared to the group with CS = 0, and the mean value of plasma viscosity was 1.286+-0.065 vs 1.208+-0.037 (p<0.001) and of fibrinogen 4.14+-0.59 vs 3.76+-0.56 (p<0.01). The correlation coefficient values of the plasma viscosity with CS was r=0,451 (p <0.01). Significantly high correlation coefficient of the CS plasma viscosity indicates that plasma viscosity may be an important atherosclerotic factor.