Plasma thiols and thiol-disulfide homeostasis in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia

- Plasma native thiol levels are significantly lower in patients with coronary artery ectasia.
- Plasma disulfide levels are significantly higher in patients with coronary artery ectasia.
- Native thiol levels, disulfide levels, native thiol/disulfide ratio are independently associated with coronary artery ectasia.
- No difference about thiol/disulfide homeostasis according to number of ectatic coronary arteries and Markis classification.

Background and aimsThiol/disulfide homeostasis has an important role in the antioxidant defense system. Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathogenesis of coronary artery ectasia. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma thiol levels and thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia.MethodsForty-one patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia and 72 patients with normal coronary arteries were included in the study. Markis classification and number of ectatic coronary arteries were recorded. Plasma total thiol levels, native thiol levels and disulfide levels were measured. Thiol/disulfide homeostasis was appraised by calculating thiol/disulfide ratio.ResultsPlasma native thiol levels were significantly lower (336.9 (252.9-374.1) vs. 353.1 (327.0-380.0), p = 0.041) and disulfide levels were significantly higher (18.9 ± 6.3 vs. 16.6 ± 3.4, p = 0.014) in patients with coronary artery ectasia than control patients. Both native thiol/disulfide and total thiol/disulfide ratio was significantly lower in the coronary artery ectasia group (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that native thiol levels, disulfide levels and native thiol/disulfide ratio were independently associated with the presence of coronary artery ectasia. Thiol/disulfide ratio was not different according to number of ectatic coronary arteries and there was no association between thiol/disulfide ratio and Markis classification.ConclusionsPlasma thiol/disulfide homeostasis is altered in patients with coronary artery ectasia.