Acute phase proteins and systolic dysfunction in subjects with acute myocardial infarction.

Aim To investigate correlations between plasmatic concentrations of acute phase proteins (APPs) and left ventricular systolic function during the early phase of acute myocardial infarction. Methods Plasmatic concentrations of alpha-1-anti-trypsin (A1AT), alpha 1 glyco-protein (A1GP), haptoglobin (HG), caeruloplasmin (CP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated in 123 patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) within 12 h after onset of chest pain. Systolic function was assessed with bi-dimensional echography and incidence of in-hospital adverse events was compared to APPs levels. Results A1AT, A1GP, HG and CP showed a statistically significant correlation with admission CRP concentrations (P < 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction inversely correlated with plasmatic concentrations of A1GP, A1AT, CP and HG. Incidence of acute heart failure correlated with values of APPs and, in a stepwise analysis, CP values were the most significant markers of acute heart failure. Conclusions Systolic dysfunction in STEMI patients seems to be associated with an inflammatory response featured by a rise in plasmatic concentration of APPs; increase in APPs concentrations seems to own a short-term prognostic relevance.

J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2007 Nov 24; [Epub ahead of print]