Abstract
Background
Patients with severe coronary artery stenosis have been found to exhibit higher levels of plasma ceramides compared to those with mild/moderate stenosis. This study aimed to investigate changes in plasma ceramides and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in patients with progressive stenosis after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Method
This prospective study recruited patients with definite or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent invasive coronary angiography (ICA) at Beijing Anzhen Hospital between March and August 2018. A total of 174 participants were enrolled in this study. The patients were categorized into two groups: PCI patients with severe stenosis (n = 55) and non-CAD patients (n = 119). Plasma concentrations of LDL-C and ceramides (Cer (d18:1/16:0), Cer (d18:1/18:0), Cer (d18:1/24:1), and Cer (d18:1/24:1)) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
Results
PCI patients exhibited higher levels of plasma Cer (d18:1/16:0), Cer (d18:1/18:0), Cer (d18:1/24:1), Cer (d18:1/18:0)/Cer (d18:1/24:0), and Cer (d18:1/24:1)/Cer (d18:1/24:0) compared to non-CAD participants. Within 24 months, progressive stenosis occurred in 28 out of 55 PCI patients, who showed an increased fold-change in plasma levels of Cer (d18:1/16:0), Cer (d18:1/18:0), Cer (d18:1/24:1), and Cer (d18:1/24:0) within 15 months after PCI, whereas no similar changes were observed in stable stenosis patients. LDL-C levels decreased within 15 months after PCI in the progressive group.
Conclusion
The changes observed in plasma levels of Cer (d18:1/16:0), Cer (d18:1/18:0), Cer (d18:1/24:1), and Cer (d18:1/24:0), along with the decreased LDL-C in progressive patients. Regular monitoring of plasma ceramide levels could provide valuable prognostic information in patients after PCI.