title: The Relationship Between Serum Pentraxin 3 and Central Obesity in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As shown in previous studies, pentraxin 3 (PTX3) can be a useful inflammatory marker for metabolic syndrome and central obesity. Serum PTX3 levels are also an independent factor associated with visceral fat area. The aim of this study was to assess the role of PTX3 as an inflammatory maker in patients with central obesity undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 2007 to June 2008, 40 subjects (mean age: 61+/-11 years, M : F=34 : 6) with STEMI who underwent primary PCI were enrolled. We determined waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, body mass index (BMI), and visceral and total fat area via fat computed tomography (FAT-CT), and compared them with serum PTX3 concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum PTX3 concentration was closely related to FAT-CT-estimated visceral fat area (r=0.41, p<0.01) and total fat area (r=0.38, p=0.01), respectively. The serum PTX3 concentration was not related to waist circumference (r=0.27, p=0.20), waist circumference/hip ratio (r=0.25, p=0.16), BMI (r=0.04, p=0.80) and lipid profiles, respectively. Among the parameters determining metabolic syndrome, an increasing visceral fat area had the strongest association with PTX3 concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with STEMI, PTX3 is associated with central obesity and it is significantly and independently correlated with visceral fat area. FAT-CT-estimated visceral fat area is the most reliable factor associated with serum PTX3 levels in patients with STEMI and central obesity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Ju
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Hui-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Seung-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi-Youn
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong-Hyeun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Woo-Seung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Wook-Sung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Ki-Bae
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Seung