Plasma YKL-40 and recovery of left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction

AbstractBackground: Plasma YKL-40 is increased early in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It is not known whether plasma YKL-40 is related to infarct size and recovery of ventricular function after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of STEMI and whether granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy influence plasma YKL-40 concentration. Materials and methods: A total of 72 patients (age: 56 ± 9 years (mean ± SD), 56 men and 16 women) with STEMI treated with PCI were included in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with subcutaneous G-CSF or placebo injections from day 1 to 7 after the STEMI. Plasma YKL-40, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and CK-MB concentrations were measured at baseline and during the first month. Infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and after 6 months. Results: Baseline plasma YKL-40 was increased (median 92 μg/L) compared to healthy su...