Background: The prognostic value of interleukin (IL)-10 in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (ST-se AMI) is currently unclear. The purpose of this study was to test whether the serum IL-10 level can predict 30-day mortality in patients with ST-se AMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Methods and results: The study design was a prospective cohort study of 250 consecutive patients with ST-se AMI of onset <12 h who were undergoing primary PCI. Blood samples for serum IL-10 levels were collected in the catheterization laboratory following vascular puncture. The serum IL-10 level was also evaluated in 20 healthy and 30 at-risk control subjects. The mean serum level of IL-10 was significantly higher in the AMI patients than in either group of controls (all values of p<0.0001). Patients with a high serum IL-10 level (> or = 30 pg/ml) had a significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (defined as <50%), significantly higher incidence of cardiogenic shock, higher white blood cell (WBC) count, more advanced congestive heart failure (defined as New York Heart Association function classification of > or = 3), and increased 30-day mortality than those patients with a low serum IL-10 level (<30 pg/ml) (all values of p<0.0001). Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a high serum IL-10 level, together with low LVEF, high WBC count and unsuccessful reperfusion, was independently predictive of increased 30-day mortality (all values of p<0.005).
Conclusion: In patients with ST-se AMI, the serum IL-10 level is a major independent predictor of 30-day mortality and should be used for early risk stratification following acute myocardial infarction.