Objective: Various algorithms for predicting coronary atherosclerosis have been established, most of which are based on large epidemiologic and cohort studies. We examined the predictive value of various clinical and biochem ical markers for angiographically defined coronary heart disease, in this study. Specifically, we assessed the value of the ratio of serum triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol, a functional marker of HDL and LDL particle size.

Materyal and Methods: Patients (38 men and 33 women) undergoing coronary angiography were classified into two groups with positive and negative findings. Patient age, body mass index, blood pressure, smoking, family anamnesis, exist of diabetes mellitus, and serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen values were assessed.

Results: Members of the angiographically defined coronary heart disease group were older and had a higher incidence of smoking, male sex, positive family anamnesis and diabetes mellitus than those in the angiographically negative group. The angiographically defined coronary heart disease group also had higher triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDLcholesterol, triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen and lower HDL-cholesterol values. According to stepwise logistic regression analysis, the significant predictors of the presence of angiographically defined coronary heart disease were positive family anamnesis, triglyceride/HDLcholesterol, C-reactive protein and age.

Conclusion: The ratio of serum triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol was the best laboratory predictor of the presence of coronary atherosclerotic lesions comparing with the other parameters in the regression model (OR=5.573, p=0.007).