title: Acute myocardial infarction in young patients: nutritional status and biochemical factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish whether nutritional status and biochemical factors, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) protein, serum iron (Fe) and fibrinogen at admission were different in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at a young age (<40 years) vs. those with AMI at an older age (>60 years). We also investigated whether during the stay in the hospital, the increase in acute-phase reactants was different in young vs. older subjects, and if dyslipidemic aspects were different between the two groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 40 patients, all males with a mean age of 36.7+/-1.16 years, admitted to our facility with AMI. The control group included 40 patients, all males, mean age of 66.3+/-4.24 years, with AMI. CRP, SAA, Fe and fibrinogen were determined at admission to the hospital and daily for 7 days in the two groups of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In young patients the median value of the highest levels were 6.2 mg/l (range 0.7-27.30) for CRP, 13.22 mg/l (range 0.7-130) for SAA, 420 mg/dl (range 76-840) for fibrinogen and 49.1 gamma/ml (range 14-102) for Fe levels. In the older patients, the median value of the highest levels were 5.9 mg/l (range 0.6-28.30) for CRP, 12.12 mg/l (range 0.9-280) for SAA, 480 mg/dl (range 60-780) for fibrinogen and 47.1 gamma/ml (range 12-94) for Fe levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, acute-phase reactants were quantitatively similar in young and old patients. On the contrary, nutritional status, homocysteine, LDL and triglycerides are significantly higher in young patients than in old patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del pozzo, 71, 41100 Modena, Italy. mattioli.annavittoria@unimo.it
authors.forename: Anna Vittoria
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zennaro
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertoncelli
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattioli
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D007501:Iron