Abstract 13261: Relationship Between Circulating CD34+ and CD146+ Cells and Change in Infarct Size in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome
Background: The presence of CD34+ and CD146+ cells in the peripheral blood in response to myocardial ischemia has been advocated as a marker of an organism’s regenerative capacity by late and early progenitor cells respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between circulating CD34+ and CD146+ levels and the change in infarct size, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients (pts) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS including ST and non ST elevation myocardial infarction). Methods: Patients <75 years old, admitted with a first ACS within 12 hours of onset of symptoms were enrolled. Peripheral blood samples for cytofluorimetric analysis of CD34+ and CD146+ cells level were drawn at day 0. Initial infarct size was evaluated from peak troponin I levels determined from 5 blood samples over the first 72 hours. MRI measurements of infarct size were performed at day 5 and at 6 months follow-up. Results: In total, 34 patients aged 57±10 years were included. Mean ejection fraction was 62±11%. Log-transformed number of CD 34+ and CD146+ were significantly correlated with the relative change in infarct size between day 5 and 6 month follow-up (p=0.01, r=-0;41 and p=0.001, r=-0.52 respectively) (Figure) Conclusion: The highest CD34+ and CD146+ cell levels were associated with the greatest relative reduction in infarct size 6 months after ACS. These results support the hypothesis that these cells could be considered as a marker of regenerative capacity in patients with acute coronary syndromes.