Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an enzyme, elevated in the atheroma and serum of a patient with atherosclerotic vessels. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the serum MPO level is related to the presence of plaque in patients without risk factors, such as, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A serum sample was collected from patients who referred for angiography. The MPO level was measured in the serum samples of 40 patients without risk factors for atherosclerosis using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The MPO level was 245.5 ± 13.8 (ng/ml) in patients with atherosclerosis and 213.9 ± 8.9 (ng/ml) in patients without atherosclerosis. There was a significant difference between the groups (P = 0.002). The odds ratio was 0.67 (0.95 CI, 0.17 - 2.5) for patients with and without coronary atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: Although the MPO concentration is higher in patients suffering from atherosclerosis, it is not a predictor of coronary artery disease in patients without diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidemia.