Relationship between plasma apelin level and coronary collateral circulation

•Apelin is an important angiogenic factor and may play an important role in coronary collateralization.•We showed that plasma apelin level was significantly higher in patients with good coronary collaterals.•Apelin was shown to be as an independent predictor for good coronary collateral development in patients with stable CAD.•There was also a significant positive correlation between plasma apelin level and Rentrop collateral grades.

ObjectiveCoronary collaterals play a crucial role during an acute ischemic attack. Angiogenesis has an important role in the formation of coronary collateral vessels. Previously, it was shown that apelin is a potential angiogenetic factor. Thus, we aimed to investigate relationship between plasma apelin levels and coronary collateral circulation in patients with stable coronary artery disease.MethodsAmong patients who underwent coronary angiography with stable angina pectoris, patients with a stenosis of ≥90% were included in our study. Collateral degree was graded according to Rentrop-Cohen classification. Patients with grade 2 or 3 collateral degree were included in good collateral group and patients with grade 0 or 1 collateral degree were included in poor collateral group.ResultsPlasma apelin level was significantly higher in good collateral group (0.69 ± 0.2 vs 0.59 ± 0.2 ng/dl, p < 0.001). Serum nitric oxide levels were similar between two groups. In multivariate regression analysis apelin [6.95 (1.46-33.15), p = 0.015] and presence of total occlusion [4.40 (1.04-18.62), p = 0.044] remained as independent predictors for good coronary collateral development.ConclusionsHigher plasma apelin level was related to better coronary collateral development. Demonstration of favorable affects of apelin on good collateral development may lead to consider apelin in antiischemic treatment strategies in order to increase collateral development.