Publication Details
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between soluble Klotho protein levels and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Iraqi patients. Klotho is an anti-aging protein with anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective properties, and reduced levels have been linked to several cardiovascular diseases. A case-control study was conducted between November 2023 and March 2024. The study included 120 participants, divided into four groups: healthy controls, patients with unstable angina (UA), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Blood samples were collected to measure serum Klotho levels using the ELISA technique, while inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also evaluated. The results showed that serum Klotho levels were significantly lower in all ACS patients than in the healthy control group. Among the ACS subgroups, NSTEMI patients had the lowest Klotho levels. A significant negative correlation was found between Klotho and ESR only in the NSTEMI group, indicating that increased inflammation was associated with decreased Klotho concentrations. No significant relationship was observed between Klotho and CRP or other inflammatory markers in the remaining groups. The findings suggest that reduced Klotho levels are associated with acute coronary syndrome and may reflect increased inflammatory activity. Therefore, Klotho may serve as a promising biomarker for cardiovascular disease severity and progression. However, further large-scale, multicenter studies are recommended to confirm these findings and to investigate the potential therapeutic role of Klotho in patients with cardiovascular diseases.