Cell-Free circulating DNA: a new biomarker for the acute coronary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
In recent studies, concentrations of cell-free circulating DNA (cf-DNA) have been correlated with clinical characteristics and prognosis in several diseases. The relationship between cf-DNA concentrations and the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains unknown. Moreover, no data are available for the detection cf-DNA in ACS by a branched DNA (bDNA)-based Alu assay. The aim of the present study was to investigate cf-DNA concentrations in ACS and their relationship with clinical features.


METHODS
Plasma cf-DNA concentrations of 137 ACS patients at diagnosis, of 60 healthy individuals and of 13 patients with stable angina (SA) were determined using a bDNA-based Alu assay.


RESULTS
ACS patients (median 2,285.0, interquartile range 916.4-4,857.3 ng/ml), especially in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients (median 5,745.4, interquartile range 4,013.5-8,643.9 ng/ml), showed a signiﬁcant increase in plasma cf-DNA concentrations compared with controls (healthy controls: median 118.3, interquartile range 81.1-221.1 ng/ml; SA patients: median 202.3, interquartile range 112.7-256.1 ng/ml) using a bDNA-based Alu assay. Moreover, we found positive correlations between cf-DNA and Gensini scoring and GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) scoring in ACS.


CONCLUSIONS
cf-DNA may be a valuable marker for diagnosing and predicting the severity of coronary artery lesions and risk stratification in ACS.
Center of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.
Ming
M
Cui
Mengkang
M
Fan
Rongrong
R
Jing
Huimin
H
Wang
Jingfeng
J
Qin
Hongzhuan
H
Sheng
Yueguo
Y
Wang
Xinhua
X
Wu
Lurong
L
Zhang
Jianhua
J
Zhu
Shaoqing
S
Ju
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D060050:Angina, Stable / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment
D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA