SYSTEMIC OXIDATIVE STRESS AS A SURROGATE OF CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE INSTABILITY AND RUPTURE PREDICTOR

Background. Oxidative stress is crucial in developing broad spectrum of diseases, including atherosclerosis and related life-threatening conditions, such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) mainly caused by atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. Objective. To clarify the relation between oxidative stress and plaque instability we decided to compare oxidative profiles of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), evaluated at admission to the coronary care unit (CCU) of LTD Clinic-LJ (Kutaisi, Georgia) in April 2018 June 2019, who underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods. 191 patients were enrolled (100 patients with ACS in Group 1 and 91 patients with CCS in Group 2) into the study. Using the CR3000 FORM PLUS (Callegari Srl, Catellani Group, Italy) – Callegari Point of Care instrument we evaluated free oxygen radical test (FORT), free oxygen radicals defense (FORD), calculated REDOX Index and the overall Profile of oxidative stress. Results. The mean/median concentration of Free Oxygen Radicals was significantly higher in the patients with ACS (404.37±9.83 Fort units/2.36 mmol/l H2O2 eq. vs 282.34±9.83 Fort units/2.36 mmol/l H2O2 eq., p<0.0001). Significant correlation was found between advanced oxidative stress and acute coronary syndrome (OR 14.42 95% CI (7.08-29.4), RR 3.26 95% CI (2.31-4.60) with high diagnostic characteristics (sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 92.3%; positive predictive value of 92% and positive likelihood ratio of 11). Conclusion. Oxidative stress is crucial in life-threatening acute coronary events. Measurement of overall oxidative stress profile, as a surrogate of plaque instability and rupture predictor, could help the clinicians in risk stratification and prevention of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).