ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Specific infectious agents have been found to be related to the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. AIMS: We assessed the possible association between angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) and hepatitis B surface antibody (HBS Ab) seropositivity in a population with relatively high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. SETTING AND DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 830 consecutive subjects undergoing coronary angiography, including angiographic results reported by two cardiologists for inter-observer reliability and assessment of HBS Ab status determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, independent two-sample t test and the Pearson's Correlation Coefficient test were used, as required. Statistics were performed using SPSS software version 13 (SPSS, Chicago, IL). RESULTS: Two hundred forty-nine (30%) subjects had normal angiogram or minimal CAD, and 581 (70%) had significant CAD in at least one major coronary artery. In patients with CAD and in patients without angiographic evidence of significant atherosclerosis, 28.7% and 28.9% respectively were positive for HBV (P=0.954). Mean C-reactive protein levels in subjects with positive and negative HBS Ab were 10.77+/-8.37 mg/L versus 10.33+/-7.64 mg/L respectively (P=0.465). However, C-reactive protein levels in CAD group were significantly higher (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested hepatitis B surface antibody seropositivity has no relationship with coronary artery disease. Moreover, no significant linear correlation exists between HBS Ab and C-reactive protein levels. However, as previously shown, C-reactive protein level in patients with coronary artery disease is significantly higher than in patients with normal coronary arteries.