Circulating CD34-positive cell number is related to effective myocardial reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction treated with primary coronary angioplasty.
OBJECTIVE
In patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), we sought to correlate circulating CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ cell levels with clinical and laboratory findings that are known to affect prognosis in such patients.


BACKGROUND
Although recent studies have focused on circulating adult peripheral blood stem cells in those patients, the possible relations between their circulating number and the various factors that may influence STEMI outcome have never been reported.


METHODS
In 74 patients with STEMI presenting within 12 h from symptoms onset and treated with successful primary PCI, blood samples were collected before PCI (baseline) and 5-8 days thereafter (post-PCI). Myocardial blush was used as an index of effective myocardial reperfusion. Left ventricular functional recovery was assessed with echocardiography at 4-6 months.


RESULTS
In STEMI patients, baseline CD34+ cell as well as CD34+ CD133+ cell numbers were lower than that of age-matched participants without history of ischemic heart disease. Both cell populations however increased post-PCI (P < 0.0001). A significant inverse relation was found between both CD34+, CD34+ CD133+ cell numbers and age, whereas both cell populations were directly related to myocardial blush grade (CD34+ r = 0.39, P = 0.002; CD34+ CD133+ r = 0.37, P = 0.003). By multiple regression analysis, a significant myocardial blush (grade 2-3) was the only predictor of left ventricular functional recovery (OR 10.77, 95% CI 3.1-22.8).


CONCLUSIONS
CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ cell number rises 5-8 days after STEMI, such increase being hampered by old age and favoured by effective myocardial reperfusion after primary PCI.
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Ospedale Civile di Legnano, Milan, Italy. mat.mariani@tiscali.it
Matteo
M
Mariani
Stefano
S
De Servi
Rosa
R
Chianese
Gabriella
G
Beria
Arianna
A
Gatti
Fabrizio
F
Poletti
Gianfranco
G
Del Rosso
Raffaela
R
Fetiveau
Arnaldo
A
Poli
Maurizio
M
Macchi
Bruno
B
Brando
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015607:Stents; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides