Circulating CD34-positive cell number is related to effective myocardial reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction treated with primary coronary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), we sought to correlate circulating CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ cell levels with clinical and laboratory findings that are known to affect prognosis in such patients. BACKGROUND: Although recent studies have focused on circulating adult peripheral blood stem cells in those patients, the possible relations between their circulating number and the various factors that may influence STEMI outcome have never been reported. METHODS: In 74 patients with STEMI presenting within 12 h from symptoms onset and treated with successful primary PCI, blood samples were collected before PCI (baseline) and 5-8 days thereafter (post-PCI). Myocardial blush was used as an index of effective myocardial reperfusion. Left ventricular functional recovery was assessed with echocardiography at 4-6 months. RESULTS: In STEMI patients, baseline CD34+ cell as well as CD34+ CD133+ cell numbers were lower than that of age-matched participants without history of ischemic heart disease. Both cell populations however increased post-PCI (P < 0.0001). A significant inverse relation was found between both CD34+, CD34+ CD133+ cell numbers and age, whereas both cell populations were directly related to myocardial blush grade (CD34+ r = 0.39, P = 0.002; CD34+ CD133+ r = 0.37, P = 0.003). By multiple regression analysis, a significant myocardial blush (grade 2-3) was the only predictor of left ventricular functional recovery (OR 10.77, 95% CI 3.1-22.8). CONCLUSION: CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ cell number rises 5-8 days after STEMI, such increase being hampered by old age and favoured by effective myocardial reperfusion after primary PCI.

Comparative short-term prognostic value of hemostatic and inflammatory markers in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Recent data show that markers of inflammation, endothelial perturbation as well as activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems are altered in unstable angina. The purpose of this study was to compare the 30-day prognostic value of the indexes of inflammation [interleukin-6 (IL-6)], endothelial activation [von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf)], fibrinolysis [plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)] and coagulation (F1 + 2), in a consecutive series of patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients consecutively admitted to the coronary care unit because of chest pain occurring within the previous 24 hours were included in the study. Blood was drawn on admission to the coronary care unit and 72 hours thereafter for the assessment of plasma levels of IL-6, vWf, F1 + 2 and PAI-1. Troponin I serum levels were measured 6 to 12 hours after admission. All patients underwent coronary arteriography. RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups according to their 30-day outcome: 57 patients (group 1) had an uneventful outcome, whereas 31 patients had an adverse clinical event (4 died, 1 had a Q wave myocardial infarction and 26 had refractory angina). The baseline biochemical variables were similar between group 1 and group 2 patients. Seventy-two hours following admission, an increase in the serum levels of IL-6 was observed in 71% of group 2 patients and in 28% of group 1 patients (p = 0.0001). The other measured variables showed significant changes at 72 hours versus entry only in group 1 patients, and no significant difference between the two groups. The areas under the ROC curves were higher for IL-6 (0.72) than for the other variables (0.58 for F1 + 2, 0.52 for vWf and 0.54 for PAI-1). In a multivariate model, including clinical, angiographic, and biochemical variables, only the change in IL-6 over 72 hours was significantly associated with a worse 30-day outcome (odds ratio 8.472, 95% confidence interval 1.030-69.671). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a mounting inflammatory process, as indicated by increasing levels of IL-6 over the first 72 hours after admission, is the most powerful predictor of the 30-day prognosis in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes.