Diagnostic value of homocysteine, C-reactive protein and bilirubin for coronary artery disease

ABSTRACT

We evaluated 3 new markers for coronary artery disease [CAD] [bilirubin, total homocysteine [t-Hcy] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]] in 319 patients with chest pains divided into 2 groups based on coronary angiography CAD group [n = 262] and non-CAD group [n = 57]. A control group consisted of 50 healthy subjects. t-Hcy had the highest diagnostic value for diagnosis of angiographically documented patients; bilirubin had the lowest. The sensitivities and specificities [based on ROC curves] of bilirubin, hs-CRP and t-Hcy were 70.9%, 50% and 76.8% respectively, and 40.4%, 80.7% and 70.2% respectively. We conclude that serum bilirubin levels cannot identify people at risk of CAD and t-Hcy and hs-CRP may be stronger markers