Abstract 2602: Elevated Serum Neopterin Levels and Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients with Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to assess whether plasma neopterin predicts adverse clinical outcomes in patients with NSTEACS. Background: Circulating C reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, correlates with events in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). High neopterin levels - a marker of macrophage activation - predict cardiovascular events in stable angina patients but their prognostic role in NSTEACS has not been systematically evaluated. Methods: We prospectively assessed 397 patients (74 % men) admitted with NSTEACS: 169 (42.5%) had unstable angina and 228 (57.5%) non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Blood samples for neopterin and CRP assessment were obtained at admission. TIMI risk score was also assessed among other clinical and biochemical variables. The study end point was the composite of cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction and recurrent angina at 180-days. Results: Baseline neopterin concentrations (nmol/L) were similar in unstable angina and NSTEMI patients (8.3 [6.5–10.6] vs 8.0 [6.2–11.1], p = 0.54). Fifty-nine patients (14.9 %) had events during follow-up (highest third (%) 21.5 vs 1 st and 2 nd thirds 11.5, log rank 7.341, p = 0.007). On multivariable hazard Cox regression, only neopterin (highest vs 1 st and 2 nd thirds, HR 2.15, 95 % CI [1.21–3.81]) was independently associated with the combined endpoint.CRP levels, however, were not significantly different in patients with events compared to those without events (adjusted HR = 0.98, p = 0.89, 95% CI 0.80 –1.21). Conclusion: Increased neopterin levels are an independent predictor of 180-day adverse cardiac events in patients with NSTEACS.