Serum glycoproteins and severity of coronary atherosclerosis

Abstract The relation of serum glycoproteins and C-reactive protein (CRP) to severity of coronary atherosclerosis was examined in 133 men and 92 women undergoing coronary angiography. The following serum glycoproteins were determined: α 1 -antitrypsin, α 1 -acid glycoprotein, α 2 -macroglobulin, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, C4b binding protein, and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)]. Sex- and age-adjusted levels of α 1 -antitrypsin, α 1 -acid glycoproteins, α 2 macroglobulin, ceruloplasmin, Lp(a) and CRP were significantly associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis as determined by the Gensini score; these associations remained significant even after adjustment for body-mass index, smoking history, hypertension, and total cholesterol, except for Lp(a) (p = 0.075). These findings suggest that certain serum glycoproteins and CRP can serve as independent indicators for the progression of coronary atherosclerosis.