title: YKL-40 a new biomarker in patients with acute coronary syndrome or stable coronary artery disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department B, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, The Heart Centre, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Yongzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rasmus Sejersten
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ripa
authors.forename: Julia Sidenius
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabrielsen
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Steinbruchel
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bindslev
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haack-Sørensen
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kastrup
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins