title: An imbalanced OPG/TRAIL ratio is associated to severe acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to evaluate the biological significance of simultaneous changes in the circulating levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and, in particular, with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Total levels of OPG and TRAIL were measured by ELISA in patients with AMI (n=113), unstable angina (UA, n=21) and healthy controls (n=120).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Since OPG was elevated during the acute phase (first 12-24-48h) after AMI and in patients with UA with respect to healthy controls, while TRAIL was decreased in acute AMI patients, CAD patients were characterized by an increased OPG/TRAIL ratio. Moreover, the OPG/TRAIL ratio was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the acute AMI patients who developed heart failure (HF) than in those who did not develop HF in the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An impaired OPG/TRAIL ratio after AMI is related to a higher risk of HF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology and Embryology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 66, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Secchiero
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corallini
authors.forename: Antonio Paolo
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Beltrami
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ceconi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonasia
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Chiara
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zauli
mesh_terms: D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand