Correlations of serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element binding protein regulator of transcription coactivator 3 and oxidative stress indicators with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with coronary heart disease

Objective  To investigate the correlations of serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element binding protein regulator of transcription coactivator 3 (CRTC3) and oxidative stress indicators with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods  A total of 154 CHD patients in the hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were selected as study group and divided into mild, moderate, and severe atherosclerosis groups based on the degree of carotid atherosclerosis; another 154 healthy individuals with physical examinations in the same period were selected as control group. Pearson method was used to analyze the correlations of serum CRTC3 and oxidative stress indicators with carotid atherosclerosis indicators.

Results  Serum CRTC3 and malondialdehyde (MDA), carotid plaque area and intima-media thickness (IMT) in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In the mild, moderate and severe atherosclerosis groups, serum CRTC3 and MDA levels, carotid plaque area, and IMT significantly gradually increased, while SOD and GSH-Px levels significantly gradually decreased (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum CRTC3 and MDA levels were positively correlated with carotid plaque area and IMT (P < 0.05), while SOD and GSH-Px were negatively correlated with carotid plaque area and IMT (P < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for the combined diagnosis of severe carotid atherosclerosis by CRTC3, SOD, MDA and GSH-Px was 0.990 (95%CI, 0.982 to 0.998), with a sensitivity of 96.27% and a specificity of 76.28%. The diagnostic value of the combined application of these four indicators was significantly higher than that of each indicator alone (Z_{combined-CRTC3}=2.723, Z_combined-SOD=2.698, Z_combined-MDA=2.673, Z_{combined-GSH-Px}=2.803, P < 0.05).

Conclusion  The serum levels of CRTC3 and MDA are significantly increased while SOD and GSH-Px levels are significantly decreased in CHD patients. Both serum CRTC3 and oxidative stress levels are closely related to carotid atherosclerosis.