College of Health

While oxylipins have been linked to coronary artery disease (CAD), little is known about their diagnostic and prognostic potential. We tested whether plasma concentration of specific oxylipins may discriminate among number of diseased coronary arteries and predict median 5-year outcomes in symptomatic adults. Using a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and quantitative tandem mass spectrometry, we conducted a targeted analysis of 39 oxylipins in plasma samples of 23 asymptomatic adults with low CAD risk and 74 symptomatic adults (≥70% stenosis), aged 38-87 from the Greater Portland, Oregon area. Concentrations of 22 oxylipins were above the lower limit of quantification in >98% of adults and were compared, individually and in groups based on precursors and biosynthetic pathways, in symptomatic adults to number of diseased coronary arteries [(1) = 31; (2) = 23; (3) = 20], and outcomes during a median 5-year follow-up (no surgery: = 7; coronary stent placement: = 24; coronary artery bypass graft surgery: = 26; death: = 7). Plasma levels of six quantified oxylipins decreased with the number of diseased arteries; a panel of five oxylipins diagnosed three diseased arteries with 100% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Concentrations of five oxylipins were lower and one oxylipin was higher with survival; a panel of two oxylipins predicted survival during follow-up with 86% sensitivity and 91% specificity. Quantification of plasma oxylipins may assist in CAD diagnosis and prognosis in combination with standard risk assessment tools.