PhD Dissertation in Vascular Diseases at the University of Babylon – College of Medicine
As part of the activities of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, a PhD dissertation defense was held at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, by the candidate Mona Kazem Kat’a under the title:
“Evaluation of Soluble Cluster of Differentiation 40 Ligand (sCD40L), its Receptor, Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and Heart-type Fatty Acid Binding Protein (H-FABP) in the Serum of Vascular Disease Patients in Babylon Province.”
The dissertation was supervised by Asst. Prof. Dr. Khawla Abdul-Hamza Shammar and Asst. Prof. Dr. Shukri Faez Nasser Al-Saad.
The session was attended by Prof. Dr. Tareq Hussein Mughair, Head of the Department, along with several faculty members, researchers, academics, and postgraduate students.
During her defense, the researcher explained that acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a major form of ischemic heart disease, is one of the leading causes of mortality and is characterized by sudden reduction in myocardial blood flow. Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of this condition.
The aim of the study was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of a panel of cardiac biomarkers in serum, including: sCD40, sCD40L, MMP-2, h-FABP, Ox-LDL, CK-MB, and lipoprotein profile, in patients diagnosed with ACS before and after coronary catheterization, compared with healthy individuals.
Findings:
• Before catheterization: Patients with ACS showed a significant elevation in all biomarkers compared with healthy controls, reflecting key underlying pathophysiological processes such as: immune activation and endothelial dysfunction (sCD40 and sCD40L), extracellular matrix degradation (MMP-2), myocardial injury (h-FABP and CK-MB), and oxidative stress linked to lipid abnormalities (Ox-LDL and lipid profile).
• After catheterization: A significant decrease was observed in several major biomarkers, including sCD40, sCD40L, MMP-2, Ox-LDL, h-FABP, and CK-MB, indicating effective myocardial reperfusion, reduced ischemic burden, and a decline in both inflammation and oxidative stress.
Conclusion:
This study highlights the dynamic nature of cardiac biomarkers in ACS patients, demonstrating that their temporal patterns—particularly their response to therapeutic interventions such as coronary catheterization—provide valuable insights into disease mechanisms, prognosis, and treatment effectiveness. Moreover, the observed interrelations among biomarkers underscore the complex interplay between myocardial injury, inflammation, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia during both disease progression and recovery.
The findings also suggest the potential role of integrating these biomarkers into early diagnosis and follow-up of ACS to improve patient outcomes.