Abstract 4347901: Prognostic Role of Circulatory T-Cadherin and CT Angiography in Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of myocardial infarction (MI) and mortality worldwide. Early detection of coronary obstruction is critical to improving patient outcomes. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) effectively assesses coronary blockages, while circulatory T-cadherin may serve as a biomarker for cardiovascular risk. Aim: This study evaluates the prognostic utility of CTA and circulatory T-cadherin levels in predicting CAD severity and guiding treatment. Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 120 subjects: 60 cases (patients with suspected CAD, aged 30-70 years, presenting with chest pain, breathlessness, or referred for CTA/invasive coronary angiography) and 60 age-matched healthy controls. Exclusion criteria included chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and pregnancy. Risk factors such as waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profiles were measured. CTA was performed using a 128-slice multidetector CT to assess coronary stenosis, categorized as single, double, or triple vessel involvement. Circulatory T-cadherin levels were quantified via ELISA. Statistical analysis used ANOVA and t-tests, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Among cases, 22 (36.7%) were aged 51-60 years, 20 (33.3%) were obese, 35 (58.3%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus, 28 (46.7%) had hyperlipidemia, and 38 (63.3%) were hypertensive. CTA revealed single vessel involvement in 12 (20%), double vessel in 18 (30%), and triple vessel in 30 (50%) cases. Mean circulatory T-cadherin levels were significantly higher in cases (6.85±0.55 ng/ml) compared to controls (0.95±0.28 ng/ml, p<0.01). Among cases, T-cadherin levels were highest in triple vessel disease (7.65±0.68 ng/ml) compared to double (7.20±0.70 ng/ml) and single vessel (6.90±0.50 ng/ml) groups (p=0.004). Conclusion: Elevated circulatory T-cadherin levels correlate with the severity of coronary obstruction, as confirmed by CTA. This biomarker, combined with CTA, can enhance early CAD screening, improve prognostic accuracy, and reduce MI-associated mortality. Keywords: Coronary Artery Disease, CT Angiography, T-Cadherin, Myocardial Infarction