Serum free iron as a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction

ABSTRACT

Elevated serum iron levels have been proposed as a risk factor for coronary artery disease. The study is aimed at investigating the role of serum iron in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. The study was performed in 100 Acute Myocardial Infarction [AMI] patients sub-grouped as smokers, hypertensives arid diabetics. Twenty-five normal healthy subjects were included in the study as controls. Both the patients arid the control subjects were evaluated using clinical history, dietary history and biochemical examinations. Serum malondialdehyde [MDA], which is a measure of the extent of lipid peroxidation, serum iron arid total iron binding capacity [TIBC], were determined by standard methods. We found elevated serum iron in all the three risk groups with acute myocardial infarction and among the groups, the smokers were found to have higher values compared to the other two groups. Hence, it may be used as a marker for the diagnosis of AMI. However, the TIBC values were not altered in any of the three risk groups with AMI. The lipid peroxidation, measured as the endogenous MDA levels were found to be more in smokers when compared to the other two risk groups with AMI