OBJECTIVE: Investigate the correlation between biochemical markers (TNI, CRP and fibrinogen) and anatomical coronary angiographic findings in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). METHODS: One blood sample was obtained to test for markers, and coronary angiography was performed within the first 72 hours after hospitalization. Univariate analysis was used to search for correlations between the 3 markers and the angiographic findings in the group of patients with an identified ischemia-related artery (IRA), and multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between these markers and the presence of unstable atherosclerotic lesions solely in the group with a coronary obstruction >50%. RESULTS: Prospective study conducted with 84 patients, 65.5% of whom were men. In the IRA-identified group, blood levels of the three markers were higher than in the groups with no IRA-identified or with normal coronary arteries. The analysis used to evaluate the IRA-identified group showed significant correlations between TIMI flow and TN-I (p = 0.006), unstable atherosclerotic lesions and TN-I and fibrinogen (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively), and multivessel disease and CRP (p = 0.0005). The multivariate analysis showed that CRP, fibrinogen and TN-I were independent predictors of unstable atherosclerotic lesions (p = 0.002; p = 0.003 and p = 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSION: In NSTE-ACS patients, TN-I, CRP and fibrinogen blood levels within the first 10 hours after hospitalization correlated with coronary angiographic findings.
Acute coronary syndromes; inflammation; thrombosis; myocardial injury
