Abstract
AIMS: This study aimed to investigate whether the change of plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) level would be associated with the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) among diabetic patients. METHODS: 339 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) underwent coronary angiography. Of them, 204 cases had CAD and were assigned to CAD group and 135 cases without CAD were assigned to non-CAD group. RESULTS: Compared to non-CAD group, CAD group had higher level of plasma MPO (p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that plasma MPO level was correlated with Gensini score. Multiple logistic analysis showed that the odds ratios for CAD across increasing tertiles of MPO level were 1.191 (0.971-1.547) and 1.488 (1.115-2.228) (p = 0.048, p = 0.009 versus 1st tertile of MPO level, resp.) by adjusting for age, sex, and other conventional risk factors for CAD. The subjects were stratified into nine groups according to tertiles of MPO and HbA1c. The odds ratio for CAD was significantly higher in group with highest levels of MPO and HbA1c (OR = 4.08, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Plasma MPO level was positively correlated with the degree of coronary artery stenosis in type 2 diabetic patients, and increasing blood glucose might amplify the association between MPO and CAD.