Are oxidative stress markers helpful for diagnosing the disease and determining its complexity or extent in patients with stable coronary artery disease?

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between oxidative/antioxidative stress markers and the diagnosis and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable CAD.

METHODS
A total of 145 patients were enrolled in the study. Based on coronary angiography results, the patients were categorized into 2 groups: those without CAD (Group 1) and those with CAD (Group 2). The patients in Group 2 were also categorized into low score and moderate/high score groups according to their SYNTAX score. The serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) levels of Group 1 and Group 2 were compared. Finally, MDA and TAOC levels were compared between the moderate/high-risk and low-risk groups formed according to SYNTAX score.

RESULTS
There was a significant difference with respect to both serum TAOC and MDA levels between Group 1 and Group 2 (p=0.036 and p=0.029, respectively). The groups with a SYNTAX score 1-22 and with a SYNTAX score >22 were not significantly different with respect to serum TAOC or MDA level (p=0.582 and p=0.85, respectively).

CONCLUSION
The serum MDA level was significantly higher and the TAOC level was significantly lower in patients with stable CAD compared to those without; however, these molecule levels failed to predict disease complexity in patients with stable CAD.