Objective: To investigate the changes in plasma urotensin II(U II) expression levels in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
Methods: Plasma U II levels in 50 CHD patients with coronary stenosis indicated by coronary angiography and 20 healthy subjects were determined by radio immunoassay.
Results: Venous plasma U II levels were significantly lowered in CHD patients in comparison with the healthy subjects (1.61+/-1.02 pg/ml vs 3.70+/-1.30 pg/ml, P=0.000). In the CHD patient group, significantly differences were noted in the U II levels between patients with stable angina (2.62+/-1.20 pg/ml), unstable angina (1.39+/-0.80 pg/ml) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI, 1.04+/-0.45 pg/ml, P=0.004). CHD patients with coronary artery occlusion and those with only coronary stenosis had comparable venous plasma U II levels (1.29+/-1.02 pg/ml vs 1.76+/-1.00 pg/ml, P=0.131), whereas the patients with restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) had higher U II levels than the other subjects in the CHD patient group (2.28+/-0.94 pg/ml vs 1.40+/-0.96 pg/ml, P=0.008), and the femoral plasma U II levels were significantly elevated after PTCT, increasing from 1.18+/-1.14 pg/ml to a postoperative level of 2.22+/-1.77 pg/ml (P=0.001).
Conclusion: U II might play a role in the pathophysiological process of CHD and can be involved in the restenosis after angioplasty.