YKL-40 a new biomarker in patients with acute coronary syndrome or stable coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
YKL-40 is involved in remodelling and angiogenesis in non-cardiac inflammatory diseases. Aim was to quantitate plasma YKL-40 in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or stable chronic coronary artery disease (CAD), and YKL-40 gene activation in human myocardium.


RESULTS
We included 73 patients: I) 20 patients with STEMI; II) 28 patients with stable CAD; III) 15 CAD patients referred for coronary by-pass surgery. YKL-40 mRNA expression was measured in myocardium subtended by stenotic or occluded arteries and areas with no apparent disease; and IV) 10 age-matched healthy controls. Plasma YKL-40 was significantly increased in patients with STEMI (88 microg/l, median) and CAD (66 microg/l) compared to controls (16 microg/l, p<0.01 for both). Plasma YKL-40 correlated with CRP at baseline in STEMI (r=0.53, p=0.02) and CAD patients (r=0.41, p=0.031).YKL-40 gene expression was similar in ischemic and non-ischemic myocardium.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma YKL-40 was significantly increased in patients with STEMI and stable CAD. Further studies will define the role of YKL-40 as a clinically useful marker for myocardial ischemia, remodelling and maybe prognosis.
Wang
Yongzhong
Y
Medical Department B, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, The Heart Centre, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ripa
Rasmus Sejersten
RS
Johansen
Julia Sidenius
JS
Gabrielsen
Anders
A
Steinbruchel
Daniel A
DA
Friis
Tina
T
Bindslev
Lene
L
Haack-Sørensen
Mandana
M
Jørgensen
Erik
E
Kastrup
Jens
J
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D054392:Adipokines; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins