The relationship between tenascin-C levels and the complexity of coronary lesion after myocardial infarction.

AIM The increase of tenascin-C levels after myocardial infarction has been demonstrated by previous studies. The relationship between tenascin-C and the grade of stenosis in the infarct-related coronary artery was indeterminate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between tenascin-C levels and total occlusion after acute myocardial infarction. METHOD Fifty-nine patients with subacute anterior myocardial infarction were divided into two groups according to their having a totally or subtotally occluded left anterior desending artery. Plasma tenascin-C, troponin I, CK-MB, uric acid, mean platelet volume, and lipid profile levels were also measured. RESULTS The history of the smoking rate, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were similar in both groups. Hemoglobin, mean platelet volume, serum creatinine, CK-MB, troponin I, serum lipid profile and uric acid levels were similar in the two groups. The CRP and tenascin-C levels were significantly higher in the total occlusion group. Tenascin-C levels were highest in patients with proximal LAD total occlusion and lowest in patients with subtotal LAD occlusion. The tenascin-C levels were correlated with the grade of stenosis (r = 0.602, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that higher tenascin-C levels were related with the total occlusion and inflammation after MI.