Associação da concentração de bilirrubina sérica com a carga aterosclerótica em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana estabelecida

SUMMARY Association of Serum Bilirubin Concentrationwith Atherosclerotic Burden in Patients withEstablished Coronary Artery Disease Background: Cardiovascular diseases are an importantpublic health problem. Adaptive and protective responsesof the vascular system against oxidative stress are importantin the prevention of atherosclerosis. Bilirubin has beenconsidered an antioxidant, with the capacity to removereactive species of oxygen. Previous studies have demons-trated that increased serum bilirubin concentrations promoteprotection against atherosclerosis. Purpose: To evaluatethe relationship between the atherosclerotic burden andthe bilirubin concentration of patients with coronary arterydisease. Method: Transversal study composed of 81 patientswith established angiographic diagnosis of coronary arterydisease, submitted to myocardial revascularization. Classicalrisk factors and bilirubin levels were assessed. The chi-square, the t Student test or the Mann-Whitney test wereused with p value significant at < 0.05.