The evaluation of iron exchange parameters in patients with coronary atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus

: The purpose of the investigation was to study iron metabolism in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in dependence on ischemic changes and the degree of coronary artery (CA) lesion. Two hundred and twenty four patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of 170 patients without concomitant diabetes mellitus (DM); group 2 consisted of 54 patients with DM. Serum levels of iron, ferritin, transferrin, and total iron-binding serum ability (TIBSA) were measured; ST depression on ECG as a sign of myocardial ischemia and the degree of coronary arterial (CA) lesion according to selective coronaroangiography (CAG) were evaluated. In the CAD plus DM group, serum iron (SI) level was significantly lower (p < or = 0.5), and TIBSA tended to be lower as well; ferritin level was increased. In both groups, patients having ischemic ECG signs had lower levels of SI, transferrin, and TIBSA; in patients with DM these parameters were lower than in patients without it. Ferritin level was significantly higher in patients with DM and ST depression. Comparison of CAG data with iron exchange parameters found the highest ferritin levels in patients with multivascular coronary lesions; in patients with DM ferritin level was significantly higher vs. patients without DM. In patients without DM, the decrease in SI, transferrin, and TIBSA was in a direct proportion to the degree of CA lesion.