Association between serum MFG-E8 levels and coronary severity index in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Aim: MFG-E8 (milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8, also known as lactaderin) plays an important role in many adverse clinical conditions such as atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, ischemia/reperfusion injury and cancers. The present study aims to investigate the association of serum MFG-E8 levels at admission with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). 
 Material and Methods: A total of 88 patients were enrolled into the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to SYNTAX score as low SYNTAX score 0.05). However, there was a moderate and negative correlation between MFG-E8 levels and Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score (r = -0.365, p = 0.001). A slightly negative association between serum uric acid level and MFG-E8 was also determined ( r = -0.232, p = 0.03). In addition, diabetes mellitus (p = 0.031), monocyte to HDL ratio (p = 0.049), TIMI risk score (p = 0.004) and SYNTAX II (p = 0.012) score were significantly higher in the high SYNTAX group with a significantly lower LVEF (p = 0.014). 
 Conclusion: The serum levels of MFG-E8 were not found to be correlated with the SYNTAX score, an indicator of worsening clinical cardiovascular event risk and the severity of coronary artery stenosis. However, MFG-E8 levels were found to be correlated with TIMI risk score, which is one of the most commonly used risk stratification model for patients presenting with non-ST segment elevation miyocardial infarction (NSTEMI).