Background: Circulating soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), a biomarker of platelet activation is substantially increased in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the circulating level of sP-selectin in patients in the early (onset of AMI > 12 h but < 7 d) or recent (onset of AMI > 8 d but < 21 d) phase after AMI remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate whether the circulating level of sP-selectin remains elevated in these two consecutive phases after an AMI.
Methods: Blood samples were collected in the catherization room before coronary angiography to assess the circulating level of sP-selectin. A total of 53 consecutive patients, 34 with early MI (group 1) and 19 with recent MI (group 2), who had had no prior thrombolytic therapy were included. Circulating levels of sP-selectin were also measured in 30 risk control (stable angina) subjects undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention and in 20 healthy subjects who comprised the healthy control group.
Results: The circulating level of sP-selectin did not differ between patients with early AMI and those with recent MI (p = 0.632). However, the plasma level of sP-selectin was significantly higher in group 1 and 2 patients than in the risk control and healthy control subjects (all p values < 0.0001).
Conclusions: Circulating sP-selectin was elevated in patients 12 hours to 7 days after AMI and the elevation was maintained until 21 days after AMI. Therefore, investigation of longer utilization of anti-platelet and anti-inflammatory agents for patients following AMI might be worthwhile.