Evaluation of serum bilirubin and its role as an antioxidant in coronary artery disease
AUTHOR(s) : Das M, Thakur B, Lahon D, Karim MN
DOI No. : 10.31741/ijhrmlp.v8.i2.2022.2
ABSTRACT :
Background and aims: Bilirubin was considered a metabolic waste product of heme with no physiological function. Later it was found that bilirubin may possess an antioxidant role due to its biliverdin bilirubin redox cycle. Considering the etiopathology of coronary artery disease (CAD), which involves lipid peroxidation, the present study aims to find an association between established cases of CAD and serum bilirubin levels. Materials and methods: This case-control study includes 50 diagnosed cases of CAD and 50 healthy age and sex-matched individuals as control. Subjects with haemolytic disease, liver disease, renal disease, gout, and thyroid disorder, and those on antioxidant supplementation or lipid-lowering therapy were excluded from the study. The serum bilirubin level is estimated in all subjects in the dry chemistry automated analyzer Vitros 250 system. Data were analyzed by using Microsoft Excel. Results: The mean value of serum bilirubin in CAD cases was 0.46±0.14 mg/dl with the range 0.2-0.9 mg/dl, whereas, in the control group, it was 0.70±0.17 mg/dl with the range of 0.4─1.2mg/dl. The low level of serum bilirubin in CAD cases was found to be significant (p<.001). Conclusion: A significant association between low serum bilirubin and CAD cases was observed. The association of low serum bilirubin levels with CAD may reflect its consumption in endogenous antioxidant activity. The inverse correlation between plasma bilirubin concentration and CAD may have important clinical and diagnostic implications. In this regard, further studies are undoubtedly needed to establish the sensitivity and specificity of serum bilirubin as a marker of cardiovascular morbidity.
Keywords: Lipid profile; endogenous antioxidant; biliverdin bilirubin redox cycle.
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