Blood histamine is associated with coronary artery disease, cardiac events and severity of inflammation and atherosclerosis

Abstract

Background: Mast cells are prevalent in the shoulder of unstable atheromas; cardiac mast cells secrete proteases capable of activating matrix metalloproteinases. Histamine is essential in the inflammatory cascade of the unstable plaque. Ascorbate depletion has been correlated with histaminemia which has been shown to impair endothelial‐dependent vasodilation. This study evaluates whether oxidative stress as measured by isoprostanes (PGF2α) coupled with an inflammatory state characterized by histaminemia predisposes patients to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: Whole blood histamine, serum vitamin C, and serum PGF2α levels were drawn on 50 patients with ACS as determined by standard diagnostic criteria, 50 patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD), and 50 age and sex matched normal controls (C). Results: Data were analyzed by stepwise discriminant and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. A significant relationship exists between histamine and PGF2α. As PGF2α rises above 60 pg/mL, an increase in histamine occurs in both the ACS and SCAD groups. A significant inverse relationship exists between ascorbate and histamine in the ACS versus C groups (P < 0.01) and the SCAD versus C groups (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Histamine and isoprostane levels increase in SCAD and ACS patients. Mast cell activation and lipid oxidation generated during atherosclerosis manifest this inflammatory response. Accelerated isoprostane formation and depleted ascorbate paired with histaminemia is active in CAD and predispose patients to acute coronary syndrome. Blood histamine alone may be a better risk factor for coronary events, and a better prognostic indicator than CRP even when combined with lipid indexes.

Kounis syndrome: an update on epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutic management

“…Blood concentration of histamine, more than twice than age-and sex-matched controls, associated with enhanced oxidative stress was found in patients with acute coronary syndromes of non allergic etiology [78]. Histamine blood levels were significantly higher in patients with various types of non allergic etiology ischemic heart disease such as unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction when compared with control normal subjects [79].…”

Are CVD Patients Under Oxidative Stress?

“…A summary of the results is given in Fig. 2 (Akkus et al, 1996;Cavalca et al, 2001;Chiu et al, 1994;Cipollone et al, 2000;Clejan et al, 2002;Delanty et al, 1997;Durak et al, 2001;Ferns et al, 2000;Gackowski et al, 2001;Haidari et al, 2001;Halevy et al, 1997;Karmansky et al, 1996;Kesavulu et al, 2001;Kostner et al, 1997;McMurray et al, 1992;Schisterman et al, 2002;Singh et al, 1995;Tamer et al, 2002;Turgan et al, 1999;Weinbrenner et al, 2003). Fig.…”

Association of Inflammatory Marker and Highly Sensitive C-Reactive Protein With Aerobic Exercise Capacity, Maximum Oxygen Uptake and Insulin Resistance in Healthy Middle-Aged Volunteers

“…23,24 Clinical evaluations have also suggested that patients with vascular inflammation are at a higher risk for coronary arterial events. [25][26][27] The greatest attention is currently being paid to the blood levels of CRP, as measured by a highly sensitive procedure (hs-CRP), as a marker of vascular inflammation.…”