Elastase in young subjects with acute myocardial infarction: Evaluation at the initial stage and after 12 months

Evaluation of oxidative status in coronary heart disease at baseline and during exercise test

Oxidative stress has probably a role in coronary heart disease (CHD), but studies focused on the behaviour of oxidative status in patients with stable CHD have obtained controversial results. On the other hand, an increased release of leukocyte elastase is considered a marker of CHD. Exercise can induce oxidative stress and leukocyte activation, so the aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative status and plasma elastase level in a group of subjects with stable coronary heart disease (CHD), at baseline and during an exercise test. We enrolled 15 patients with previous acute myocardial infarction, all treated with statins and platelet antiaggregating agents. As parameters of oxidative statu…

Platelet activation markers in long-term follow-up of young subjects with acute myocardial infarction

Plasma markers of platelet and polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation in young adults with acute myocardial infarction

Our goal was to evaluate some plasma markers of platelet and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) activation in a group of young adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the initial stage and after three months. We enrolled 49 AMI subjects aged<45 years and examined plasmatic levels of platelet factor 4 (PF4), β-thromboglobulin (β-TG), elastase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) using ELISA methods. PF4 and β-TG were increased, compared to control subjects, both at the initial stage and after 3 months. In control subjects and in AMI patients, at both times of observation, there was a significant and positive correlation between the two platelet parameters, while no correlation was present betwe…