Background Factor VII (F VII) has been widely investigated as a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis, however there is still debate about its role in the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study F VII levels were measured in patients with angiographically proven CAD and its relation with disease severity, coronary events and with other risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis were examined.
Methods Consecutive patients referred to coronary angiography were divided in three groups: 1. CAD group -those with a significant lesion in one or more coronary arteries (n = 155), 2. High-risk group - patients with normal coronary arteries and with two or more risk factors (n = 54), 3. Controls - patients with normal coronary arteries and with no or one risk factor (n = 90). CAD group was also studied according to the number of vessels involved and to the history of coronary events.
Results Mean F VII levels were not different between the three groups of patients. In CAD group, F VII increased parallel to the number of vessels involved (one vessel disease: 85 ± 20%, two vessel disease: 92 ± 23%, three vessel disease: 105 ± 23%). Patients with a history of coronary events had significantly higher F VII levels than those without such a history (96 ± 25% versus 89 ± 22% respectively, P = 0.02). However, logistic regression analysis revealed no significant relation between F VII and either the presence of CAD or coronary events.
Conclusions F VII levels increase in patients with previous coronary events, but it is not an independent risk factor for the progression or for the severity of CAD.
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