Plasma osteoprotegerin level on admission is associated with no-reflow phenomenon after primary angioplasty and subsequent left ventricular remodeling in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Objectives: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) upregulates endothelial cell adhesion molecule response to TNF-α by upregulating angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between admission plasma levels of OPG, Ang-2 and TNF-α in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and no-reflow after primary angioplasty and subsequent left ventricular remodeling (LVR). Methods: Ninety-two patients with first STEMIs, reperfused within 12. h of symptom onset, were included. LVR was defined as a >20% increase in LV end-diastolic volume at 6-month follow-up assessed using echocardiography. Results: The incidences of angiographic no-reflow and electrocardiographic no-reflow were 40.2% and 55.4%, respectively. Thirty-six percent of patients subsequently developed LVR. OPG levels were significantly higher in patients who developed angiographic no-reflow (173. pg/ml, interquartile range [IQR] 83-416 vs 104. pg/ml, IQR 57-235; p= 0.04), electrocardiographic no-reflow (160. pg/ml, IQR 81-315 vs 102. pg/ml, IQR 47-230; p= 0.025) and LVR (174. pg/ml, IQR 120-342 vs 97. pg/ml, IQR 51-219; p= 0.004). In multivariable logistic regression, OPG level was an independent predictor of angiographic (OR 1.05: 95% CI 1.01-1.08 [per 10. pg/ml increase]; p= 0.005) and electrocardiographic (OR 1.04: 95% CI 1.00-1.07 [per 10. pg/ml increase]; p= 0.04) no-reflow. ROC analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.69 for OPG and LVR. Plasma OPG. ≥ 132. pg/ml showed a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 61% for predicting LVR (OR 4.05: 95% CI 1.06-15.38; p= 0.04). Conclusion: High OPG level on admission is significantly associated with no-reflow after primary angioplasty and subsequent LVR at follow-up in patients with STEMI.