ABSTRACT
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 ＜50%) and significant CAD (stenosis=50%). Micheal score system was used to estimate the severity of CAD. Result U Ⅱ concentration in the significant CAD group had no difference compared with the no or mild CAD group (1.95±1.18 pmol/L vs 2.04±1.47 pmol/L, P＞0.05),but higher in the severe group (score =9) than in the normal or nearly normal group (score＜3)( 2.50±1.62 pmol/L vs 1.61±1.05 pmol/L,P=0.03). U Ⅱ 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, U Ⅱ 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.