Leukotriene C4 in Stable Angina Pectoris

The product of lipooxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, leukotriene C4 (LTC4) levels are measured from peripheral artery and vein blood samples in 26 cases, all diagnosed as coronary artery disease and had chronic stable angina pectoris. 13 cases with normal coronary angiograms consitituted the control group. LTC4 level was found high in coronary artery disease (99.2±20.0 ng/ml) and this was significant comparing with the control group (p<0.05). When classified according to the number of diseased vessel, in single vessel disease arterial LTC4 level (72.1±12.9 ng/ml) was not significantly high; in two vessel disease (arterial LTC4 level 102.1±18.3 ng/ml) and in three vessel disease (123.9±21.1 ng/ml) there was significant difference compared with the control group (p<0.005 and p<0.01, respectively). The venous LTC4 levels of the patient group were not significantly different. We conclude that in chronic stable angina pectoris arterial LTC4 levels increase parallel to the extension of disease whereas venous LTC4 levels remain unchanged.