Relationship between activin A level and infarct size in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing successful primary coronary intervention

Background: Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-β cytokine family, has been suggested to have a role in inflammation. We examined the serum level of activin A in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: The subjects were 30 AMI patients, 20 stable angina pectoris (AP) patients and 20 normal subjects. The serum levels of activin A in AMI patients were measured before PCI and on days 1, 2, 7, and 14. Results: Activin A levels before PCI in AMI patients (557 ± 255 pg/ml) showed a significantly higher value than those in AP patients (364 ± 159 pg/ml) and control subjects (316 ± 144 pg/ml). Increased serum activin A level before PCI was decreased on day 2, and then gradually re-elevated on days 7 and 14. The serum activin A level before PCI was correlated with log-transformed peak creatine kinase (CK) as a surrogate of infarct size (r = 0.48, p = 0.008). Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the serum activin A level before PCI was an independent predictor of peak CK. Conclusions: The serum activin A level, increased in AMI, was positively correlated with peak CK and CK-MB levels which are measures of infarction size.