Association between myeloperoxidase levels and risk of coronary artery disease.

CONTEXT: Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a leukocyte enzyme that promotes oxidation of lipoproteins in atheroma, has been proposed as a possible mediator of atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between MPO levels and prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Case-control study conducted from July to September 2000 in a US tertiary care referral center, including 158 patients with established CAD (cases) and 175 patients without angiographically significant CAD (controls).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association of MPO levels per milligram of neutrophil protein (leukocyte-MPO) and MPO levels per milliliter of blood (blood-MPO) with CAD risk.

RESULTS: Leukocyte- and blood-MPO levels were both significantly greater in patients with CAD than in controls (P<.001). In multivariable models adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, Framingham risk score, and white blood cell counts, MPO levels were significantly associated with presence of CAD, with an OR of 11.9 (95% CI, 5.5-25.5) for the highest vs lowest quartiles of leukocyte-MPO and an OR of 20.4 (95% CI, 8.9-47.2) for the highest vs lowest quartiles of blood-MPO.

CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of leukocyte- and blood-MPO are associated with the presence of CAD. These findings support a potential role for MPO as an inflammatory marker in CAD and may have implications for atherosclerosis diagnosis and risk assessment.