SERUM INTERCELLULAR ADHESION MOLECULE AS A DIAGNOSTIC BIOMARKER OF CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Biomarker of Coronary Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Objective: To compare serum concentration of intracellular adhesion molecules i.e., ICAM in patients with coronary atherosclerosis as compared to controls.
Study Design: Case control study.
Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) from January 2014 to June 2014.
Material and Methods: This study was conducted as a case- control study. A total of 110 patients undergoing coronary angiography were included, 55(50%) Patients were those who demonstrated at least one coronary vessel with > 50% stenosis on angiography. Whereas 55 (50%) individuals who demonstrated <20% coronary vessel stenosis on angiography were considered normal and were included in the control group. Serum ICAM was measured in both groups.
Results: Serum ICAM was found to be raised in 52(9401%) patients of the case group while it was raised in only 3(5.4%) patients of the control group. This increase was found to be statistically significant. Also the serum ICAM values were found to rise significantly with increasing vessel involvement.
Conclusion: Increasing concentrations of serum ICAM can be used as a biomarker of coronary atherosclerosis alleviating the need to employ invasive tests like coronary angiography to confirm the diagnosis.