C-reactive protein levels predict systolic heart failure and outcome in patients with first ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with coronary angioplasty

INTRODUCTION Implantation of bare metal or drug eluting stents supported by dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is standard treatment for the management of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Individual response to aspirin and clopidogrel is heterogeneous, and decreased response is associated with thrombotic events following stenting. We postulated that systemic inflammation at the time of STEMI would diminish responsiveness to DAPT. The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker of inflammation and decreased platelet sensitivity to DAPT in STEMI. METHODS We recruited patients with STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who received oral clopidogrel 600 mg loading dose followed by 75 mg daily maintenance dose and aspirin 325 mg daily. Platelet reactivity and hs-CRP were measured within 72 hours of PCI and at 6 weeks. For patients receiving eptifibatide, blood samples were taken 48 hours after discontinuation. Platelet reactivity was assessed using the VerifyNow platelet function analyzer. A cut-off value of 208 platelet reaction units (PRU) was used to define high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity (HCPR) and a value of 454 aspirin reaction units (ARU) was used to define high on-aspirin platelet reactivity (HAPR). RESULTS In 20 patients aged 31 to 85, in hospital and 6 weeks after STEMI, hs-CRP was 6.7 (SD 4.0) and 2.6 (SD 3.2) respectively, p< 0.01. Changes in ARU from 408.3 (SD 54.3) to 425.2 (SD 68.2) and PRU from 157.8 (SD 74.7) to 164.2 (SD 75) were not statistically significant. 2 patients had HAPR in hospital; 1 became sensitive at follow up. 2 patients developed HAPR and HCPR. We saw a trend towards higher PRU in diabetic patients and those prescribed statins. CONCLUSIONS Although we found a significant difference in hs-CRP levels between the first and second time point, no significant difference was found in on-aspirin and on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity between the time points.Thus, in this small series, the acute inflammatory state associated with STEMI did not appear to influence the on-DAPT reactivity at the dosages used. Trends among those with diabetics and prescribed statins will be discussed

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A Promising Innovative Treatment for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: The Use of C-Reactive Protein Selective Apheresis: Case Report

Blood Purification ◽

10.1159/000506176 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 753-757 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Darko Boljevic ◽

Aleksandra Nikolic ◽

Sinisa Rusovic ◽

Jovana Lakcevic ◽

Milovan Bojic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Case Report ◽

Coronary Intervention ◽

St Elevation Myocardial Infarction ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Complete Evaluation ◽

Autologous Plasma ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

St Elevation

Background: In patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with larger infarct size, transmural extent, and poor function of left ventricle and independently predict 30-day mortality. CRP-apheresis following STEMI showed to be feasible, safe, and has significant beneficial effect both on myocardial infarction size and wall motion. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second published clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of selective CRP-apheresis in the STEMI treatment using Spectra-Optia and Pentrasorb CRP-adsorber systems. Case Report: A 53-year-old female was referred with anterior STEMI. After percutaneous coronary intervention, patient received standard post-STEMI therapy according to current guidelines. Selective therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) was performed using Spectra-Optia (Terumo BCT; USA) and Pentrasorb CRP-adsorber (Pentracor GmbH; Germany) systems. Antecubital veins were used for vascular access and acid-citrate-dextrose solution (ACD formula A; total volume = 1,026 mL) was utilized as anticoagulant. The volume of processed blood was 15,600 mL. The removed “natural” plasma (total volume = 8,329 mL) was replaced with CRP-depleted autologous plasma (total volume = 8,085 mL). This intensive TPE-treatment was well tolerated, without adverse effects, or complications. The CRP plasma levels were: initial = 4.2 mg/L 6 h after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), pre-apheresis = 16.4 mg/L, and post-apheresis = 4.59 mg/L (CRP-depletion = 72%). There were neither significant changes observed in biochemistry nor any alterations in plasma hemostatic activity investigated before and after CRP-adsorption performed. Conclusion: Early performed CRP-apheresis is a promising innovative therapeutic approach for STEMI treatment that could provide a reduced size of infarction zone – with inferior occurrence of heart failure after AMI. However, precise and complete evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this treatment requires further multicenter randomized and larger clinical studies.

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