Leucocyte copper, a marker of copper body status is low in coronary arterydisease

To elucidate the relationship between Leucocyte copper as a reliable, sensi tive index of copper body status and extent of atherosclerosis in patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) the present case-control study was carri ed out. 80 subjects were studied (23 females and 57 males), aged between 30 -70, due to have a angiography. Individual angiograms were scored by combin ing the individual scores in all the major coronary arteries into one score of a scale 1.00 for patency to 0.00 for severe CAD. Serum and Leucocyte co pper and zinc were determined by GFAAS. No significant difference between p atients with advanced CAD and relatively normal arteries were observed in t he Lipid profile and Levels of plasma copper. Leucocyte copper had a signif icant Link with the severity of atherosclerosis which was independent of se x. There was a Linear relationship between the degree of decreasing Leucocy te copper concentration and angiogram score. These findings give support to the hypothesis that marginal copper status, assessed by decreased Leucocyt e copper Level, is associated with developing CAD.