Association of midregional proadrenomedullin with coronary artery stenoses, soft atherosclerotic plaques and coronary artery calcium

Heart Vessels. 2012 Jul;27(4):352-9. doi: 10.1007/s00380-011-0166-9. Epub 2011 Jul 2.

Abstract

Midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is elevated in patients with heart failure and myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of MR-proADM with the grade of coronary artery stenosis, presence of coronary artery soft plaques and coronary artery calcification score (CACS), determined by 64-multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients without known prior cardiovascular disease. This retrospective study included 107 patients undergoing MSCT for confirmation (or exclusion) of coronary artery disease. MR-proADM levels were measured in all patients. The assessment of coronary artery stenoses, CACS and soft coronary plaques was made by MSCT using known criteria. The MR-proADM [median (25th-75th percentiles)] level was 0.33 (0.21-0.43) nmol/l. The MR-proADM level was 0.28 (0.22-0.40) nmol/l in patients with coronary stenoses ≥50% (n = 23) versus 0.33 (0.27-0.40) nmol/l in patients with coronary stenoses <50% (n = 83, P = 0.59), 0.33 (0.26-0.40) nmol/l in patients with soft plaques (n = 56) versus 0.33 (0.25-0.41) nmol/l in patients without soft plaques (n = 50, P = 0.73) and 0.33 (0.25-0.39) nmol/l in patients with CACS <200 (n = 81) versus 0.32 (0.26-0.44) nmol/l in patients with CACS ≥200 (n = 26, P = 0.77). In multivariate analysis, the MR-proADM level was a significant correlate of coronary artery stenoses [odds ratio (OR) = 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-0.99; P = 0.026] and soft plaques (OR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.90-0.99; P = 0.015) but not of CACS (OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.93-1.03; P = 0.36). A decreased MR-proADM level is an independent correlate of the presence of coronary artery disease and of soft atherosclerotic plaques. Patients with decreased MR-proADM levels may need invasive examinations to diagnose more severe forms of coronary artery disease.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenomedullin / blood*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Coronary Angiography / methods
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnosis*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Artery Disease / pathology
  • Coronary Stenosis / blood
  • Coronary Stenosis / diagnosis*
  • Coronary Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Stenosis / pathology
  • Coronary Vessels / chemistry
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Odds Ratio
  • Peptide Fragments / blood*
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Precursors / blood*
  • ROC Curve
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vascular Calcification / blood
  • Vascular Calcification / diagnosis*
  • Vascular Calcification / diagnostic imaging
  • Vascular Calcification / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Protein Precursors
  • mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin, human
  • Adrenomedullin