Serum Oxidative Status as a Potential Predictor of Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death and disability in developed countries.Human studies revealed a significant association between serum oxidative status using PON1, TBARS and thiol levels and the presence of CAD and its severity. However, these studies were addressing the severity of CAD depending on coronary angiography of patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction, Non ST elevation myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, while part of them even had a history of CAD. Others where admitted for an elective coronary angiography for suspected stable CAD while only few patients were assessed for atypical chest pain. This study thus aims to assess the relationship between PON1 activity, TBARS and thiol levels and the existence of CAD and its severity in patients with no previous history of CAD presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain but with no evidence of acute myocardial infarction or acute E.C.G ischemic changes. Assessment with a Cardiac CT scan instead of coronary angiography will allow the investigators to study the status of coronary atherosclerosis and calcium burden in all participants, including those presenting with atypical chest pain that most probably will not be referred by physicians to a coronary angiography. Further sub groups analysis will estimate this relationship particularly in low-intermediate risk groups depending on 3 different validated scoring systems - TIMI, GRACE and HEART score.