[Serum copper levels in patients with acute and chronic types of ischemic heart disease and its relation to lipoprotein levels and extent of coronary atherosclerosis].

The authors assessed serum copper and lipoprotein concentrations in a group of 67 patients hospitalized successively at the cardiological department. During hospitalization they were subjected to selective coronarography with assessment of the angiographic score. In 35 patients the angiographic examination was made during the chronic stage of IHD (group A), in 32 patients it was indicated on account of acute coronary syndrome (group B). The authors found that serum copper concentrations are significantly higher in patients with acute forms of IHD (group B, p < 0.001). Serum copper concentrations do not correlate significantly with lipoprotein concentrations nor with the extent of coronary atheroclerosis (angiographic score).