Study of leukocytic hydrolytic enzymes in patients with acute stage of coronary heart disease.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major killer worldwide. Atherosclerosis, which is the basis of CHD, is believed to be an inflammatory disorder. Though various aspects of atherosclerosis are extensively studied, leukocytic hydrolytic enzymes are not studied very well with respect to CHD.

Aim: This study was planned to assess changes associated with leukocytic hydrolases in CHD patients.

Setting And Design: A tertiary care hospital; case-control study.

Materials And Methods: 106 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 60 patients with unstable angina and 45 healthy controls were included in the study. Acid phosphatase, lysozyme, adenosine deaminase (ADA) and cathepsin-G levels were estimated from leukocytes. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured.

Statistical Analysis: Statistical comparison of data was done using student's t-test (unpaired). Correlation difference was calculated by using Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results: Significantly higher levels of acid phosphatase, lysozyme, ADA with lower levels of cathepsin G in leukocytes were observed in CHD group. We also found significantly higher levels of serum MDA with lower concentrations of blood GSH in CHD group. In diabetic CHD group, significantly higher levels of leukocytic acid phosphatase, lysozyme, ADA and serum MDA with lower levels of cathepsin G and blood GSH were observed.

Conclusions: Our study indicates that leukocyte hydrolytic enzymes, mainly acid phosphatase, lysozyme and ADA were more active in CHD patients and may contribute to inflammation related with CHD. Its also indicates that leukocyte cathepsin-G may have antiinflammatory role.