The relationship between neopterin levels and cardiac troponinin patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes

Objectives: We examined the relationship between neopterin level, a locally and specific marker of inflammation, and cardiac troponin release in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS).
Study design: The study included 234 patients with NSTE-ACS and angiographically documented coronary artery disease. Serum levels of neopterin and cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I) were measured on admission. The patients were analyzed in two groups: 137 patients were cTn-I negative (<0.2 ng/ml), 97 patients were cTn-I positive (≥0.2 ng/ml). The presence of thrombus, lesion morphology, and TIMI flow were examined by coronary angiography.
Results: The two groups did not differ significantly with regard to the localization of culprit lesions and lesion morphology. The presence of TIMI ≤2 flow was significantly higher in cTn-I positive patients (p<0.001). The rates of visible thrombi during coronary angiography were 24.7% and 7.3% in cTn-I positive and negative patients, respectively (p=0.012). Serum neopterin levels were higher in cTn-I positive patients (p<0.001) and were correlated with cTn-I levels (r=0.817, p<0.001). In logistic regression analysis, neopterin was found as the only independent factor affecting cTn-I positivity (Odds ratio=1.4; p<0.001). ROC analysis showed 12.55 nmol as the optimal cutoff for neopterin level. The rates of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for neopterin in distinguishing cTn-I positive and negative patients were 65.9%, 64.2%, 56.2%, and 72.1%, respectively.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that higher cTn-I levels may be related with neopterin levels, which reflect local inflammatory activity in patients with NSTE-ACS.

Keywords: Angina, unstable, coronary angiography, coronary disease; coronary thrombosis; neopterin/blood; troponin I/blood