Severe multivessel coronary artery disease and high-sensitive troponin T

INTRODUCTION: A key problem in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is non-invasive identification of patients with severe multivessel CAD. Determination of biomarkers that have pro-inflammatory properties (C-reactive protein – hsCRP) and indicate heart muscle ischemia (high-sensitive troponin T – hsTnT) can contribute to the improvement of stratification in this regard. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with the presence of multivessel CAD in clinically stable men. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 92 symptomatic men (mean age 64.05 ± 9.42 years) with preserved left ventricular function, scheduled for elective coronary angiography. Patients were divided and analyzed in two groups: with multivessel coronary artery disease (2-3-vessel disease, n = 46) vs. without multivessel coronary artery disease (n = 46). RESULTS: Patients with multivessel CAD had significantly higher levels of hsTnT (0.01 vs. 0.007, p = 0.0021) and fasting glucose (6.0 vs. 5.45, p = 0.0112). Based on the drawn ROC curves, the cut-off points were determined for hsTnT ≥ 0.0085 ng/ml and fasting plasma glucose ≥ 5.85 mmol/l. From multivariate analysis only hsTnT in concentration higher than the cut-off point enhanced the risk of multivessel CAD (OR 4.286, 95% CI: 1.79-10.263, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In men with stable CAD, preserved systolic left ventricular function and non-high cardiovascular risk determined from the initial concentration of hsCRP, elevated level of hsTnT was independently associated with the risk of multivessel coronary artery disease.