THE PLACE OF FERRITIN AMONG RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

Background: Prospective studies of East Finnish men demonstrated an in creased risk of myocardial infarction in association with elevated ser um ferritin levels (greater than or equal to 200 mu g/l). The present study was designed to explore whether serum ferritin concentrations ar e related to angiographically determined coronary artery disease or to a past history of myocardial infarction. Methods: We studied 225 men and 74 women, most of them of French-Canadian origin, undergoing elect ive coronary arteriography, and classified them according to the prese nce, absence, and severity of angiographic findings. A history of myoc ardial infarction was defined as clinical and electrocardiographic and /or enzymatic evidence of a myocardial infarction occurring more than 12 weeks previously or akinesia of the left ventricle. Serum ferritin was measured with the Baxter Stratus II immunoassay system. Results: T here were no significant differences in ferritin levels between patien ts with greater than or equal to 50% diameter stenosis (195 men, 48 wo men) and those with intact or minimally affected arteries (31 men, 26 women) either in men or in women. There was no correlation between the quartiles of serum ferritin and the severity of coronary artery disea se. There were no differences in ferritin levels in patients with (95 men, 25 women) or without (71 men, 43 women) a history of myocardial i nfarction. However, serum lipid levels were significantly related to a ll the above conditions. Conclusion: In a French-Canadian population, serum ferritin levels, unlike serum lipids, were not related to the pr esence or severity of angiographically determined coronary artery dise ase, nor to a history of myocardial infarction.