Background: Presence of microvascular obstruction (MVO) derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is among the strongest outcome predictors after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aimed to investigate the comparative predictive values of different biomarkers for the occurrence of MVO in a large cohort of reperfused STEMI patients.
Methods: This study included 128 STEMI patients. CMR imaging was performed within the first week after infarction to assess infarct characteristics, including MVO. Admission and peak concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), creatine kinase (CK), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were measured.
Results: MVO was detected in 69 patients (54%). hs-cTnT, CK, hs-CRP, LDH, AST and ALT peak concentrations showed similar prognostic value for the prediction of MVO (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.77, 0.77, 0.68, 0.79, 0.78 and 0.73, all p > 0.05), whereas the prognostic utility of NT-proBNP was weakly lower (AUC = 0.64, p < 0.05). Combination of these biomarkers did not increase predictive utility compared to hs-cTnT alone (p = 0.349).
Conclusions: hs-cTnT, CK, hs-CRP, LDH, AST and ALT peak concentrations provided similar prognostic value for the prediction of MVO. The prognostic utility of NT-proBNP was lower. Combining these biomarkers could not further improve predictive utility compared to hs-cTnT alone.
Keywords: Biomarker; Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging; Myocardial infarction.