title: Procalcitonin as a prognostic marker in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Procalcitonin is involved in the inflammatory response and is associated with adverse prognosis in certain conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between procalcitonin and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), left ventricular (LV) function and remodelling following acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma procalcitonin was measured in 977 patients with AMI. Subjects were followed for MACE (median 671 days). A subgroup underwent echocardiography at discharge and follow-up LV function and volume assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Procalcitonin was associated with MACE on uni- and multivariable analysis. Kaplan-Meier assessment revealed an adverse outcome in subjects with procalcitonin above the median. Procalcitonin was related to markers of LV dysfunction and remodelling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Procalcitonin is associated with MACE, LV dysfunction and remodelling post-AMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK. kelly.dominic@talk21.com
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Sohail Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Onkar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dhillon
authors.forename: Paulene
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Struck
authors.forename: Iain B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Squire
authors.forename: Joan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Leong L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide