Ratio of serum aspartate to alanine aminotransferase as a marker of isolated coronary artery ectasia and its severity

Background: Several studies have reported an association between elevated liver enzymes and increased risks for developing inflammatory diseases. The aim of our study was to examine how serum liver transaminases, as inexpensive and routinely measured markers, and the De Ritis ratio are associated with the presence of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) and its severity. Methods: Participants were recruited from patients admitted to Tehran Heart Center for diagnostic coronary angiography due to suspected myocardial ischaemia. These participants also underwent concurrent laboratory routine biochemical and liver enzyme tests. Results: A total of 104 participants were included; 59 had CAE and 45 were controls without coronary artery disease (CAD). The CAE group was split into a further two subgroups: those with isolated CAE (n=27) and those with CAD and coexisting CAE (n=32). In the adjusted multivariate analysis, a lower ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to ALT (AST/ALT) was, uniquely among the variables, a statistically significant marker for isolated CAE. In the CAD + CAE group, the AST/ALT ratio was not significant after adjustments for the confounding factors. The multivariate linear regression for the Markis score showed that the AST/ALT ratio was inversely associated with the severity of CAE. Conclusions: We conclude that the AST/ALT ratio and, to some extent, ALT independently of other inflammatory factors, can be associated with the presence and severity of isolated CAE.