Serum and Erythrocyte Selenium Concentration Related to Coronary Artery Disease

As compenet antioxidant protection system, Glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme has a preventive role in atherogenesis via various mechanisms. Selenium (Se) is a cofactor of GSH-px enzyme and its deficieny causes a reduction in the enzyme activity In our study, possible role of lowered Se levels in development of acute mycardial infarction (AMI) and its effect on the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) was evaluated. Serum and erythrocyte Se levels of 16 patients with AMI and 36 patients with CAD, detected via coronary angiography, were is compared with 14 patients having chest pain and normal coronary arteries. Serum Se was 74.29±14.05 mg/L and erythrocyte Se 0.53±0.05 mg/g Hb in the control group. Serum Se was 61.42±15.58 mg/L and erythrocyte Se 0.39 ± 0.08 mg/g Hb in AMI group. Serum Se was 54.21 ± 12.26 mg/L and erythrocyte Se 0.44±0.05 mg/g Hb in the single vessel disease. Serum Se was 61.02±20.06 mg/L and erytrocyte Se 0.42 ±0.09 mg/g Hb in the two vessel disease. Serum Se was 66.71±11.25 mg/l and, erythrocyte Se 0.45±0.08 mg/g Hb in the multivessel disease, measured by atomic absorbtion spectrophotometer. Serum Se (p<0.01), erythrocyte Se (p<0.001) levels of the AMI patients, serum Se (p<0.001), erythrocyte Se (p<0.001) levels of the single vessel disease patients, serum Se (p<0.02), erytrocyte Se (p<0.001) levels of the two vessel disease patients and serum Se (p<0.05), erythrocyte Se (p<0.02) levels of multi-vessel disease patients were all significantly lower than the control group. Both the serum and erythrocyte Se levels were not significantly different between patients of CAD with or without AMI (p>0.05). Lack of difference led us to the conclusion that the in decrease Se level might be due to the atherosclerotic process, rather than due to the oxidant stress caused by AMI. No significant difference was detected between the Se levels of the patients and extend of atherosclerosis, by means of involved coronary artery (1,2 or multi-vessel disease) detected via coronary angiography (p>0.05). No significant difference was deteted between the Se levels of patients with different degrees of atherosclerotic coronary artery involvement (one, two or multi-vessel disease) as assessed by coronary angiography.