[Inflammation study in unstable angina and myocardial infarction without ST segment elevation. Value of ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein]

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse the inflammatory state in Acute Coronary Syndromes without ST-segment elevation by means of the value of the High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and other markers of inflammation. To assess if there are differences between unstable angina and myocardial infarction and if it has prognostic value of cardiovascular complications during one year follow up.

Methods: 61 patients diagnosed of Acute Coronary Syndrome without ST-segment elevation were studied: mean age of 67 +/- 11 years old, 26% women. The value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and other inflammatory markers (leukocytes and fibrinogen) were analysed and were compared in those patients with unstable angina versus myocardial infarction without ST elevation. Follow up during one year of cardiovascular complications (death with cardiac origin, infarction, refractory ischemia or rehospitalization because of cardiovascular cause) and its relation with the inflammatory markers.

Results: 75% of the patients showed increased levels of High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (> 2 mg/l). 47 patients (77%) were diagnosed of Infarction without ST elevation and the remainders of Unstable Angina. There were no statistically significant differences between subgroups, neither in the median value of the C-reactive protein: 4.49 mg/l in infarction versus 4.5 mg/l in Angina (p = ns) nor in the percentage of patients with high levels of C-reactive protein (77% in infarction versus 71% in Angina). With regard to the other inflammatory markers (fibrinogen and leukocytes) no differences between subgroups were found. None of the inflammatory markers showed predictive value about the appearance of the composite end-point during one year follow up.

Conclusions: The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein is elevated in patients with Acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation, but no difference in the inflammatory state of patients with unstable angina versus myocardial infarction without ST elevation was found. In our series, these markers were not related with the risk of cardiovascular complications.