Effect of Acute Myocardial Infarction on a Disintegrin and Metalloprotease with Thrombospondin Motif 13 and Von Willebrand Factor and Their Relationship with Markers of Inflammation.

OBJECTIVES: Coagulation mechanisms and fibrinolytic assembly are important components role players of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) progression. Our study objective was to see the serial variations in the levels of Von Willebrand factor (VWF) and A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease with ThromboSpondin motif (ADAMTS13) over the course of AMI and to determine their relationship with the cardiovascular risk markers and the patient's clinical characteristics.

METHODS: This project was done at the departments of Emergency Medicine, Physiology and Cardiac sciences of King Saud University Medical City. We studied ADAMTS13, VWF, fibrinogen, and CRP levels in 80 patients with AMI when patients were admitted; post AMI by 3-4 days and at follow-up of 3 months. We compared them with a control group consisting of 36 subjects.

RESULTS: AMI had significantly lower levels of ADAMTS13 at AMI and after 3-4 days; at follow-up the difference in levels was nonsignificant, when compared with controls. Similarly, VWF levels were significantly higher in AMI and remained high even at follow-up compared to control subjects. VWF/ADAMTS13 ratio was also significantly higher at AMI and 3-4 days while at follow-up difference was nonsignificant compared to control subjects. Regression analysis between hsCRP and ADAMTS13 showed an inverse relationship ( r = 0.376, p < 0.01), while correlation with VWF was significantly positive ( r = 0.376, p < 0.01), while correlation with VWF was significantly positive (.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of VWF and reduced levels of ADAMTS13 activity may contribute to the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction and might prove to be important mediators of AMI progression.