The relationship between serum ferritin, body iron indices, and the coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke remains
controversial. The role of diabetes mellitus, smoking, and hypertension on serum ferritin and other iron monitoring molecules
in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been under active consideration. The present study addresses the alterations in the
body iron status and the lipid peroxidation (LPO) activity in AMI, particularly in the diabetics, hypertensives, and smokers.
The study also evaluates the correlation between them. This study is comprised of AMI patients with or without
diabetes/hypertension/smoking and healthy controls of ages 29 to 79. Blood hemoglobin, hematocrit (HCT) values, serum
iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin and erythrocytes LPO were analyzed. An elevation in total iron, ferritin and
erythrocyte LPO, and a decline in TIBC were observed in AMI patients irrespective of whether they are with or without
diabetes, hypertension, or smoking while Haemoglobin (Hb) decreased in AMI non-smokers, and HCT remained unchanged
when compared to controls. A positive correlation existed between total iron, ferritin and erythrocyte LPO, between
hemoglobin and hematocrit, but a negative correlation of TIBC with ferritin and LPO in the AMI experimental groups is
observed. A statistical significant increase in Hb and HCT values were noted in AMI smokers in comparison to AMI nonsmokers,
while other parameters remained unchanged between the complimentary AMI groups. AMI females had lower
levels of Hb and HCT than AMI males. Diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and AMI are inflammatory processes. Elevated
Ferritin, an acute phase reaction protein and associated LPO activity might be attributed to AMI progression.
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