ISSN : 1301-5680
e-ISSN : 2149-8156
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery     
The role of antioxidant enzymes and 6-sulphatoxymelatonin in radial artery atherosclerosis
Hasan Berat Cihan1, Cengiz Çolak2, Vedat Nisanoğlu1, Çetin Öztürk3, Feral Öztürk4, Nevzat Erdil1, Bektaş Battaloğlu1, Ercüment Ölmez5
1 İnönü Üniversitesi Turgut Özal Tıp Merkezi, Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Malatya
2 Şifa Hastanesi Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Bölümü, Erzurum
3 İnönü Üniversitesi Turgut Özal Tıp Merkezi, Biyokimya Anabilim Dalı Malatya
4 İnönü Üniversitesi Turgut Özal Tıp Merkezi, Histoloji Anabilim Dalı, Malatya
5 Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Farmakoloji Anabilim Dalı, Manisa
Background: We evaluated the incidence of atherosclerosis in radial artery grafts used for coronary artery bypass surgery and the influence of 6-sulphatoxymelathonin and antioxidant enzymes on atherosclerosis of the radial artery.

Methods: The study included 25 patients (22 males 3 females; mean age 56±3 years; range 42 to 67 years) in whom radial artery was used for elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Data from 10 patients with histopathological evidence for atherosclerosis of the radial artery (group 1) were prospectively compared with those of 15 patients without atherosclerosis (group 2). Risk factors for atherosclerosis including age, gender, the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking, and peripheral artery disease were recorded. Detailed blood lipid profile (triglyceride, cholesterol, and lipoprotein analyses), C-reactive protein, and antioxidant enzyme levels (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), and urine 6-sulphatoxymelatonin levels were determined.

Results: In group 1, histopathological examination of the radial artery wall revealed atherosclerotic changes of grade 1 in four patients, grade 2 in three patients, grade 3 in two patients, and grade 4 in one patient. Serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), and C-reactive protein were similar in both groups (p>0.05). Serum apoprotein A and apoprotein B levels were significantly higher in group 1 (p<0.05). Although patients in group 1 had increased antioxidant enzyme levels in the radial artery wall and decreased urine 6-sulphatoxymelatonin levels, these did not reach significance (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that, although not statistically significant, higher oxidative stress and decreased melatonin levels may play a role in radial artery atherosclerosis.

Keywords : Antioxidants; atherosclerosis; coronary artery bypass; melatonin; radial artery/transplantation; vascular patency
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