2012 Volume 72 Issue 5 Pages 539-546
Background: A low blood ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid to arachidonic acid (EPA/AA ratio) is a known risk factor for ischemic heart disease, however, little is known aboutthe short-term variation of the EPA/AA ratio. Objective: To investigate possible short-term variation of the EPA/AA ratio in patients with stable angina. Methods: The subjects were 38 patients who had stable angina and at least one lesion with 75% stenosis that required revascularization based on coronary angiography findings. The EPA/AA ratio was determined at 3 time points: 1) on admission to hospital for the first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)(on admission EPA/AA ratio), 2) during fasting before breakfast on the day of PCI (day of PCI EPA/AA ratio), and 3) during fasting on the day after PCI (day after PCI EPA/AA ratio). Results: The mean age of the subjects was 68.7 ± 9.7 years, 73.7% were men, 73.7% had hypertension, 71.1% had dyslipidemia, and 31.6% had diabetes mellitus. On admission the EPA/AA ratio, ratio on the day of PCI, and fasting ratio on the day after PCI were 0.47 ± 0.34, 0.46 ± 0.34, and 0.44 ± 0.34, respectively. The differences between these three values were significant (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The EPA/AA ratio may show short-term variation. Therefore, to obtain accurate evaluation of this ratio as a risk factor for ischemic heart disease, it may be important to standardize the timing of blood collection.
