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.