The Relationship Between Serum Pentraxin 3 and Central Obesity in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients.
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.
Shim
Byung-Ju
BJ
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Jeon
Hui-Kyung
HK
Lee
Seung-Jae
SJ
Kim
Sung-Sik
SS
Park
Mi-Youn
MY
Lee
Dong-Hyeun
DH
Shin
Woo-Seung
WS
Lee
Jong-Min
JM
Youn
Ho-Joong
HJ
Chung
Wook-Sung
WS
Seung
Ki-Bae
KB