Pentraxin 3 is Associated with Worse Outcome in Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a more specific marker of vascular inflammation than C - reactive protein (CRP).

Objectives: The present study aimed to demonstrate the association between PTX3 and markers of adverse events and poor prognosis in patients with Non-ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI).

Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 36 patients (10 females, mean age: 58 ± 11 years) with NSTEMI who had admitted to the Cardiology Clinic of Kartal Koşuyolu Heart Research Hospital and 35 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (26 females, mean age: 56 ± 9 years) between January and May 2013. PTX3 levels were measured in the controls and at the 8th and 24th hours of chest symptoms in the patients undergoing coronary angiography during admission.

Results: The patients group had significantly higher PTX-3 levels at both 8th and 24th hours compared to the control group (2.6 ± 3.1 vs. 1.9 ± 2.1 ng/mL, P < 0.001 at the 8th hour; 4.8 ± 7.6 vs. 1.9 ± 2.1 ng/mL, P < 0.010 at the 24th hour). The results showed a significant correlation between PTX3 level and Killip class (r = 0.34, P = 0.040 at the 8th hour; r = 0.43, P = 0.009 at the 24th hour). Besides, serum PTX3 level was positively correlated to the SYNTAX score (r = 0.57, P < 0.001 at the 8th hour) and negatively correlated to hemoglobin level (r = -0.37, P = 0.020).

Conclusions: Among the patients with NSTEMI, PTX3 level was associated with markers of higher risk and worse prognosis (GRACE score, hsCRP, age, NT-proBNP, and hemoglobin). Thus, PTX3 level might be used as a novel cardiac biomarker to determine high-risk patients.