title: High serum erythropoietin level is associated with smaller infarct size in patients with acute myocardial infarction who undergo successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether a higher serum erythropoietin (EPO) level in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) subjected to successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can predict a smaller infarct size determined by creatine kinase (CK) release.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Erythropoietin has been shown to protect cardiomyocytes from ischemia-reperfusion injury in rodents.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively studied 101 patients with first MI who received successful primary PCI within 12 h from the onset of MI. Blood samples were collected to examine the serum EPO level after the primary PCI and within 24 h from the onset of MI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The peak CK level and cumulative CK release were significantly lower in the above-median EPO group than in the below-median EPO group. Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grades and collateral grades before PCI, infarct-related coronary arteries, time to the successful reperfusion from the onset of MI, and serum creatinine levels were similar in the two EPO groups. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the absolute serum EPO level (mU/ml) as well as TIMI grades after PCI and preinfarction angina was an independent predictor for the cumulative CK release.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that a high endogenous EPO level can predict a smaller infarct size in patients with acute MI subjected to successful primary PCI. This might be attributed to the potentially protective effect of endogenous EPO against ischemia-reperfusion injury in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Iwaki Kyoritsu General Hospital, Iwaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Namiuchi
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kagaya
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shiba
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugi
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oikawa
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kunii
authors.forename: Hidetsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamao
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yui
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Toshikatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichihara
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D003402:Creatine Kinase