Background: Inflammation be may plays a central role in atherosclerosis. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a specific feature for coronary atherosclerosis. In multiple epidemiologic studies, inflammatory biomarkers such as high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), has been associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), while Pentraxin III might reflect local inflammation status in tissue and it is used as a new biomarker of inflammation. The aim of this study was designed to evaluate the association between the serum levels of hs-CRP, Pentaxin III and HbA1C% with coronary artery calcium score values in patients with suspected CAD and to show the role of these parameters in progression and development of CAC. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad and at the Cardiologic Clinics of Ibn-Al-Bitar Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, during the period from February 2013 to November 2013. Sixty-five patients with suspected CAD and who were not on statin derivatives treatment were included in this study and classified according to their coronary artery Ca score, using Multi-Slice Computed Tomography Scanner (MSCT), into three groups: Group I (GI, n=20) with coronary artery Ca score =0.0 Agatston Score (AS), Group II (GII, n=25) with coronary artery Ca score > 1-399 (AS), and Group III (GIII, n=20) with coronary artery Ca score of more than 400 (AS). Results: The present study showed the changes in serum concentrations of pentraxin III and hs-CRP were increased with increase in the severity of Ca score, but without significant level; GI had (0.83±0.35 ng/dl, 3.13±3.50 mg/l, respectively), GII (0.96±0.30 ng/dl, 3.07±3.79 mg/l, respectively), and GIII (0.99±0.50 ng/dl, 3.71±3.70 mg/l, respectively). Significant increased in the mean value of HbA1c in GIII compared with GI (P=0.03). Also the mean values of non-HDL-cholesterol (for both, P=0.0289) and atherogenic index (P=0.008 and P=0.0011) were significantly higher in GIII than in GII and GI. Conclusion: This study suggested the controversial role of proinflammatory adipokines, the hs-CRP and pentraxin III, in progression of coronary artery calcium calcification. The link among inflammation (hs-CRP, PTX3), hyperglycemia (HbA1C%) and dyslipidemia (non–HDL and atherogenic Index) may play important role in the severity progression of CAC.
