Aim To explore the relationship between plasma visfatin level and coronary artery atherosclerosis(As) in patients with coronary artery diseases(CAD).Methods 62 causes were undergone coronary angiography and divided into control group of 13 cases and As group of 49 cases.The severity of coronary stenosis was determined by Gensini score and based on the results,the As group were classified into two sub-groups:mild and severe groups.The plasma levels of visfatin were measured by ELISA kits.Results Compared with control group,plasma level of visfatin was significantly elevated in As group.In As groups,patients with severe As have higher plasma level of visfatin than those in patients with mild As.Moreover,plasma level of visfatin was positively correlated with Gensini(r=0.359,P<0.01).Conclusions The plasma level of visfatin is closely correlated with the severity of coronary artery in CAD patients,suggesting that visfatin may be involved in the process of As.