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(Circulation. 2003;108:e9034.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Cardiovascular News

Ruth SoRelle, MPH

Circulation Newswriter

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

New Marker in Acute Coronary Syndromes

Myeloperoxidase, a protein expressed by polymorphonuclear neutrophils, is a powerful predictor of the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome, said an international collaboration of researchers in the September 23, 2003, issue of the journal Circulation (Circulation. 2003;108:1440–1445).

The scientists, led by Stephanus Baldus, MD, of the University of Hamburg in Germany, for the CAPTURE (c7E3 Anti-Platelet Therapy in Unstable Refractory angina) trial investigators, assessed myeloperoxidase levels in the blood of 1090 patients with acute coronary syndrome in a substudy of the CAPTURE trial itself. During the next 6 months, they recorded the deaths and myocardial infarctions that occurred in the group. They determined that myeloperoxidase is an independent predictor of patients’ 6-month outcomes, as were troponin T, C-reactive protein, vascular endothelial growth factor, and soluble CD 40 ligand. They concluded not only that myeloperoxidase is an important risk indicator but that it extends prognostic information gleaned by measuring more traditional biochemical markers. For example, in patients with low troponin T levels (below 0.01 µg/L) and elevated myeloperoxidase, the risk of cardiovascular events is elevated. The measurement thus identifies a subgroup of patients who might be missed by more traditional marker measurements.

They concluded that myeloperoxidase "may serve as both a marker and mediator of vascular inflammation and further points toward the significance of PMN [polymorphic neutrophils] in the pathophysiology of ACS [acute coronary syndrome]."

Moderate Warfarin Dosages Adequate in Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Moderate dosages of warfarin appeared as effective as higher dosages in preventing thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies who had . . . [Full Text of this Article]