[Prognostic significance of heart fatty acid binding protein in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome: results of follow-up for twelve months].

UNLABELLED: Value of heart fatty acid binding protein (FABP) for medium term prognosis in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) is not well established.

AIM: To compare prognostic value of FABP levels with those of troponin I (TnI) and creatine kinase MB (CK MB) activity in patients with NSTEACS.

METHODS: Serum FABP and TnI levels (HyTest), CK MB activity (Biocon) were measured in 203 patients with NSTEACS (mean age 63.9+/-11.5 years, 52.2% male). Blood was sampled at admission within 12 (median 3.83) hours and in 6 and 12 hours after onset of pain. Upper limits of normal range (ULN) for TnI and CK MB were 0.4 ng/ml and 25 U/l, respectively. Serum FABP was measured in 53 healthy volunteers (mean age 44.3+/-13.3) and 95th percentile was used as ULN (4.67 ng/ml). Deaths and nonfatal MIs (events) were registered during one year follow-up.

RESULTS: There were 47 events (23%, 23 deaths and 24 nonfatal MIs). Patients with events compared with those without events had significantly higher TnI and CK MB 12 hours after onset of pain and significantly higher FABP at all time points of blood sampling. Multivariate (step-up) analysis selected the following independent predictors of events: elevated FABP 6 hours after pain onset (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.14-5.24; p=0.021), T-wave inversion on admission ECG, age >65 and regular use of nitrates before hospitalization. Sensitivity of elevated FABP 6 hours after pain onset was 78.4%, specificity -- 45.1%. After exclusion from analysis of all or just admission and 6 hours FABP data elevated TnI 12 hours after onset of pain became an independent predictor of events.

CONCLUSION: In this group of patients with NSTEACS among markers of myocardial necrosis (FABP, TnI, MB CK) obtained serially during first 12 hours after pain onset elevated FABP was the best predictor of events during 1 year follow up for subjects in whom blood sample could be done 6 hours after pain onset.