2Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
3Department of Cardiology Faculty of Medicine University of Hacettepe 06100, Sıhhiye, Ankara, Turkey
4Hacettepe Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
5Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hacettepe, Ankara Turkey
Abstract
Objective: Ventricular remodeling (VR) is a pathologic process characterized by progressive ventricular dilatation occurring after acute myocardial infarction (MI) leading to left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels to predict the left VR. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 72 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed MI with age ranging between 38-87 years (mean 59 ± 12 years). Control group was consisted of 30 patients with no additional systemic disease and normal coronary arteriograms. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to all patients and controls both in the beginning of the study and in the 6th follow-up. A coronary arteriography was also performed to all patients. Patients with an increment in the diastolic volume index more than 20% in the follow-up compared with basal values included in the VR subgroup. The patient subgroup with VR consisted of 19 patients. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis tests for comparison of variables between groups. Logistic regression and ROC analyses were used for evaluation of accuracy of TNF-alpha in prediction of VR. Results: There were no significant differences between groups according to demographic characters. The basal plasma levels of TNF-α were higher in the patient subgroup with VR as compared with patients without VR and controls (14.59 ± 4.28 pg/ml vs 7.30 ± 4.48 pg/ml, and 1.64 ± 1.49 pg/ml, p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis only TNF-α predicted the VR (OR-1.356, 95% CI 1.117-1.647). Plasma TNF-α levels with a cut-off ≥ 10.33 pg/ml were found to have 89.5% sensitivity and 79.3% specificity to predict the development of VR. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the increment of plasma TNF-α levels in the acute phase of MI and the close relationship between the TNF-α levels and VR in the patients with first MI.