Association of NF-κB with Recurrence of Myocardial Infarction- A Study in North Indian Population

Abstract

Background: Nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) is a decisive transcription factor associated with vascular inflammation which is responsible for plaque destabilization and rupture. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate its levels in patients with recurrent Myocardial Infarction (MI) as compared to controls. Methods: To understand the mechanism of familial susceptibility we decided to study the levels of NF-κB. We enrolled 200 patients after detailed diagnosis, sub-grouping and consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study subjects were segregated into patients without family history and patients having family history of MI. Patients without family history were further sub-grouped into patients who had MI for the first time (n=63) and patients who had recurrentMI (n=37). Also, patients with family history of MI were further sub-grouped into patients who had MI for the first time (n=54) and patients who had recurrent MI (n=46). Serum NF-κB was estimated by ELISA. Results: Study subjects having recurrent episodes of MI had significantly higher level of NF-κB as compared to those who had first episode of MI (p=0.0018). Serum levels of NF-κB were significantly raised in patients with family history having first episode of MI when compared with those patients without family history (p=0.0007). Conclusions: The study suggests that NF-κB activation is pivotal in triggering coronaryinstability and causing recurrence in patients with previous history of unstable angina. Furthermore, family history can increase the susceptibility to increased CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) risk due to raised NF-κB levels in these patients as compared to those without family history.