The relation between the levels of osteoprotegerin and the degree of coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome and stable angina pectoris.

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG), an inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis, has recently been under the spotlight in studies regarding the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.

Aim: To evaluate the value of serum OPG in the diagnosis and severity in patients with stable angina pectoris (SA) and unstable angina pectoris/non ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods: This study involved 160 patients, SA (n = 65), acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS; n = 65), and a control group (n = 30). Blood samples were collected in the first hour, after 24 hours and on the fifth day. The prevalence of coronary artery atherosclerotic lesions was determined using the Gensini scoring system.

Results: A statistically significant difference was observed in the first hour OPG levels between the control group and both the SA and NSTE-ACS group (p < 0.001). When the cut-off value was determined as 247.71 pg/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of the first hour OPG levels indicating coronary artery disease were 91.54% and 46.67%, respectively, while the positive predictive value was 88.1% and the negative predictive value was 56%. No correlations were observed between the first, 24th hour and the fifth day OPG levels and the Gensini scores. No relation was denoted between the OPG levels and number of diseased coronary arteries.

Conclusions: In our study, serum OPG level seemed to be unrelated to the severity or the degree of coronary artery disease in patients with SA and unstable angina pectoris/non ST elevation myocardial infarction. OPG may only be accepted as an indicator of coronary atherosclerosis.