Serum Level of Antioxidant Enzymes in Opium-Addicted Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

<span><strong><em>Background: </em></strong><span>Opiates cause coronary artery disease (CAD), which is one of the most common<span> complicated cardiovascular diseases and is responsible for morbidity and mortality rates. The<span> mechanism of the association between opiates and CAD is not well known. Therefore, the aim<span> of this study was to evaluate antioxidant enzymes serum levels in patients with CAD and opium<span> addiction.<br /><span><strong><em>Methods: </em></strong><span>This case-control study was performed on 188 cases (40 in the CAD group, 39 in the CAD<span> and opium addiction group, and 60 in the control group). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and<span> glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured by enzymatic methods and compared between the<span> groups.<br /><span><strong><em>Results: </em></strong><span>The serum level of SOD was 744.55 ± 506.16 U/L, which was lowest among the patients who<span> had CAD with opium consumption (465.46 ± 67.8 U/L) and highest in the control group<span> (1304.46 ± 545.69 U/L) (<span><em>P </em><span>< 0.001). Furthermore, the serum level of GPx was<span> 1076.92 ± 778.28 U/L, which was lowest among the patients who had CAD with opium<span> consumption (769.79 ± 506.77 U/L) and highest in the control group (1661.41 ± 615.11 U/L)<span> (<span><em>P </em><span>< 0.001).<br /><span><strong><em>Conclusions: </em></strong><span>The serum levels of SOD and GPx were significantly lower in our CAD cases with<span> opium addiction. Opiates cause oxidative stress. Pharmacological and psychiatric approaches<span> can reduce the toxicological effects of opiates.</span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>