Background: The no-reflow phenomenon is a deteriorating factor for prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Leukocyte enzymes may be involved in developing the no-reflow phenomenon. The aim of this study was to clarify the association of myeloperoxidase, a leukocyte enzyme, with the no-reflow phenomenon in patients with AMI after percutaneous coronary inetervention (PCI).
Methods: We enrolled 50 patients with AMI whose infarct-related coronary arteries were rescued by thrombectomy devices. Blood samples were collected from peripheral vein (PV), ostium and culprit lesion of infarct-related coronary artery. Myeloperoxidase, elastase and interleukin (IL)-8 were measured by ELISA. Antegrade blood flow in the infarct-related coronary artery and myocardial perfusion were evaluated according to the corrected TIMI frame counts (cTFC) and the myocardial blush grade (MBG).
Results: Plasma myeloperoxidase and IL-8 levels at the ostium and the culprit lesion of infarct-related coronary artery were significantly greater than those in PV. No-reflow was found in 10 patients (20%). Plasma levels of myeloperoxidase at the culprit lesion of infarct-related coronary artery were significantly greater in the patients with no-reflow than those without no-reflow. Plasma myeloperoxidase levels at the culprit lesion of infarct-related coronary artery positively correlated with the cTFC. Also, plasma myeloperoxidase levels were significantly higher in the patients with MBG 0-1 than those with MBG 2-3.
Conclusions: The present findings indicate that local myeloperoxidase levels in the culprit coronary artery may contribute to the no-reflow phenomenon in the patients with AMI.
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