Association of urotensin Ⅱ with angiographic severity of coronary artery disease

Objective The goal of this study was to examine the association between urotensin Ⅱ (U Ⅱ) concentration and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods We studied U Ⅱ concentrations in 100 patients with known or suspected CAD referred for cardiac catheterization. Based on coronary angiograms, subjects were classified as having no or mild CAD (stenosis 0.05), but higher in the severe group (score =9) than in the normal or nearly normal group (score<3)( 2.50±1.62pmol/L vs 1.61±1.05pmol/L, P=0.03). UⅡ concentration had no relationship with other known risk factors, but it correlated with CAD severity (r=0.213, P=0.034). In multiple regression analysis, UⅡ is one of the determinants of the severity of CAD, other than age, abnormal glucose, hypertension and gender. Conclusios U Ⅱ is elevated in severe CAD and there is a significant relationship between U Ⅱ concentration and CAD severity.