Background
Oxidative stress is caused by increased oxidant generation with impairment of endogenous antioxidant mechanisms. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and it is increased by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a noninvasive technique that is used for the assessment of subclinical cardiovascular disease.
Aim
To investigate the relation between serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and CIMT in patients at risk or with established coronary artery disease (CAD).
Patients and methods
The study included 30 patients with CAD diagnosed by coronary angiography (group I) and 30 patients without CAD (group II) with cardiovascular risk factor (diabetes or hypertension or both). Moreover, 20 apparently healthy individuals were included as a control group (group III). Serum SOD and MDA were measured in all participants.
Results
CIMT was more in patients with CAD than in patients in the high-risk group (hypertension and/or diabetes) and healthy individuals. Patients with CAD had higher serum MDA levels than patients in the high-risk group and healthy individuals. Patients in the high-risk group without established CAD had higher MDA levels than healthy individuals. Patients with CAD and patients in the high-risk group had lower SOD activity than healthy individuals.
Conclusion
MDA is a good predictor of CIMT and can be used as an early marker of atherosclerotic CAD in diabetic and hypertensive patients.