Plasma fibronectin level and its association with coronary artery disease and carotid intima-media thickness.

BACKGROUND: The exact relation of fibronectin with coronary atherosclerosis is unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine the association of fibronectin level with presence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) and intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA).

DESIGN: The IMTs of CCA of 86 patients who underwent coronary angiography were measured; traditional vascular risk factors were also evaluated in these patients. Fibronectin, lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen levels were determined.

RESULTS: Plasma fibronectin levels of the patients with CAD were found to be significantly elevated compared to patients with normal vessels (0.46+/-0.11 and 0.36+/-0.12 mg/dl respectively, P = 0.001). Fibronectin levels were not associated with extent of CAD. No significant association was observed between fibronectin level and traditional risk factors. IMTs of right and left CCA in patients with CAD were found to be elevated compared to patients with normal vessels (0.89+/-0.1 mm compared with 0.76+/-0.1 mm, P = 0.001 and 0.93+/-0.2 mm compared with 0.71+/-0.1 mm, respectively P < 0.001). Fibronectin levels were positively correlated with CRP (r = 0.45, P < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (r = 0.23, P = 0.03) and total cholesterol (r = 0.21, P = 0.04) levels and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (r = -0.24, P = 0.02). IMT of left CCA was positively correlated with CRP levels (r = 0.23, P = 0.04) and negatively correlated with HDL-C levels (r = 0.2, P = 0.04). Logistic regression analysis showed that age (P < 0.01) and fibronectin levels (P = 0.01) were independent predictors for the existence of CAD.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that fibronectin levels may be a significant predictor of CAD. However, it was shown that fibronectin levels were not associated with extent of CAD and IMT of CCA.