Objective: To compare plasma tissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) levels before, immediately and 24 hours after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with or without no-reflow.
Methods: Plasma TF and TFPI in AMI patients underwent PCI were measured by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent (ELISA) before, immediately and 24 hours after PCI.
Results: The levels of TF and TFPI of no-reflow patients (n = 17) were significantly higher than those of reflow patients (n = 36) at baseline, immediately and 24 hours after PCI [TF: (275.3 +/- 46.2) ng/L vs. (236.8 +/- 44.3) ng/L, (332.7 +/- 41.3) ng/L vs. (282.3 +/- 38.7) ng/L, (315.5 +/- 47.8) ng/L vs. (248.1 +/- 46.9) ng/L; TFPI: (165.2 +/- 38.4) microg/L vs. (128.5 +/- 18.7) microg/L, (176.3 +/- 36.8) microg/L vs. (135.6 +/- 20.3) microg/L, (149.8 +/- 31.7) microg/L vs. (118.7 +/- 19.2) microg/L; all P < 0.01]. Plasma TF was significantly increased in both groups (all P < 0.01) immediately post PCI and the TF was still higher than that before PCI in no-reflow patients (P < 0.05) and returned to baseline level in reflow patients at 24 hours after PCI (P > 0.05), TFPI levels were similar before and after PCI in both groups (all P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Plasma tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor might play important roles in the development of no-reflow during PCI in AMI patients.