title: Cell-free DNA levels in acute myocardial infarction patients during hospitalization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to investigate cell-free DNA daily concentration changes following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to assess any correlations with complications during hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serial cell-free DNA level determinations were performed by quantitative Real-Time PCR in 47 AMI patients once daily during hospitalization (235 samples) and once in 100 healthy subjects. Cell-free DNA concentrations are significantly higher in patients throughout hospitalization compared to healthy subject levels (2.644 (SE 0.0952) vs. 1.519 (SE 0.0566), P < 0.001). The median maximum cell-free DNA concentration was 3.5-fold higher (Mann Whitney P = 0.0035) in 20/47 patients with complicated post AMI course--group I--(1719.7, range 117.32-4996212.1 GenEq/ml plasma) compared with 27/47 patients without complications--group II--(492.9, range 56.43-4715.15 GenEq/ml plasma). Substantial differences exist between cell-free DNA concentrations measured on t(pre) (the day before the complication) and t(c) (the day the complication occurred) as well as t(post) (the day after the complication) in group I whereby cell-free DNA rises significantly in t(c) and remains elevated in t(post) (t(pre) vs. t(c), 2.445 vs. 2.965, P = 0.0171 and t(pre) vs. t(post) 2.445 vs. 2.913, P = 0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cell-free DNA concentrations were elevated in AMI patients compared to healthy control subjects, rise significantly when complications occur and have a potential clinical value in monitoring patient progress during hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Athens University, Medical School, Athens, Greece. adestoun@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Aspasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Destouni
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vrettou
authors.forename: Dionisis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antonatos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chouliaras
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Traeger-Synodinos
authors.forename: Sotiris
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patsilinakos
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitsiou-Tzeli
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsigas
authors.forename: Emmanouel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kanavakis