Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Plasma Trimethylamine N-Oxide, A Gut Microbe–Generated Phosphatidylcholine Metabolite, Is Associated With Atherosclerotic Burden, Vichai Senthong, Xinmin S. Li, Timothy Hudec, John Coughlin, Yuping Wu, Bruce Levison, Zeneng Wang, Stanley L. Hazen, W.H. Wilson Tang

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Background: Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota metabolite from dietary phosphatidylcholine, has mechanistic links to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) pathogenesis and is associated with adverse outcomes. Objectives: This study sought to examine the relationship between plasma TMAO levels and the complexity and burden of CAD and degree of subclinical myonecrosis. Methods: We studied 353 consecutive stable patients with evidence of atherosclerotic CAD detected by elective coronary angiography between 2012 and 2014. Their high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) levels were measured. SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) scores and lesion characteristics were used to quantify …